Two charities are teaming up and pushing the BC NDP to get serious on ending pet bans in rental housing.
The BC SPCA and First United Church say the province promised to ban “No-pet clauses,” which force renters to choose between housing and pets.
The church says it’s also an equity issue as seniors, people who are low income and those fleeing violence are often left with no option to keep their pet.
“So at First United, we serve homeless populations, including trying to prevent homelessness,” Amanda Burrows, the executive director, said.
“So our data revealed something really alarming. The last couple of years, that often a pet ban and rentals is creating these impossible situations for people to choose either keeping housing or keeping their pets.”
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She said they want the province to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to end the pet bans in buildings with five or more rental units.
“So not a blanket ban over like a condo or your home with a basement suite, but purpose-built rentals,” she added.
The BC SPCA says around 25 per cent of pets surrendered are because of a lack of pet-friendly housing.
“Which is devastating because that means these are animals who, you know, have homes, they are loved, they aren’t experiencing medical concerns where owners or the guardians are unable to care for them,” Kaila Wolf, senior director, media and internal communications with the BC SPCA, said.
“It simply comes down to a lack of pet-friendly housing, either being evicted from or unable to find during a move.”
In a statement to Global News, David Hutniak, CEO of LandlordBC said there are many challenges with changing the legislation, “with one significant cohort of renters having their rights totally ignored. I refer to renters who chose to live in a no pets building and would now lose their right to quiet enjoyment if this legislation was enacted.”
He added that “thousands” of new rental units are becoming available that are pet-friendly and owners are allowing pets as the rents are dropping.
“Renters have more pet-friendly housing options than they’ve ever had,” Hutniak said.
“My point is this. We are in the service industry. The market can, will, and has responded to the needs of renters on this issue just like we have on many other issues,” he added.
“The sector does not need more regulation. Quite the opposite. We need less regulation to stay viable.”
Global News has reached out to the B.C. government for comment.
I do feel for these people. But it is not my responsibility to provide housing for their animals. I have seen the damage that can be caused by pets, and landlords always seem to end up with the bill. As well, advocates never seem to take into consideration that there are people with allergies. Should they be required to now have to constantly take allergy drugs to combat their symptoms? There are a whole lot more people involved here than just pet owners. If advocates feel so strongly, perhaps they should house them.
Before making this law, please put in place a law that prohibits irresponsible pet owners from the damages caused by the pets AND their owners 100%.
Pet owners are NOT ALWAYS responsible but feel entitled instead of responsible. Not all pet damages can be fixed.
Put the expense on the pet owner, not on the landlord. There is a limit to this and a choice allowed.
The landlord has a property to protect which should be above the right to own a pet. The landlord should be able to protect their property even to the point of saying no pets.
We are pathetic in the province.
Animals surrendered because of greedy landlords.
How many landlords also force tenants to pay via cash. Do not register their suites to pay for city services or the CRA for our much needed social programs.
Would love all the cash deposits at the banks on the first of the month to be audited.
As for pets allow them ALL. NO ADDITIONAL FEES, as you greedy jerk landlords are already cheating the system
Don’t forget the clause “NO EXTRA FEE “