Get your pet microchipped - your new tenancy could depend on it

On 29 January, MPs will hear the second reading of a Private Members’ Bill to abolish no-pet clauses in private rental contracts. The Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill, put forward by Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell received a positive response in Parliament at its first reading, and is being backed by 11 other MPs including Andrea Leadsom and the former leader of the Lib Dems, Tim Farron.

The government approval

The government has already signalled its willingness to give “responsible and caring” tenants in the PRS the right to live with their pets and the bill is expected to pass into law. If it does, tenants will have to abide by a number of rules. Pets must be certified as healthy by a vet before moving in and dogs must be both vaccinated and microchipped. This has been a legal requirement since 2016 and owners who don’t bother face fines of up to £500. Now cat owners are in the frame too, with a public consultation on the proposal to make it mandatory for pet owners to microchip their cats launched in December. So if Andrew Rosindell’s bill becomes law this year, it is likely that both cats and dogs will have to be microchipped before their owners can sign a new tenancy agreement.

At Ringley we already promote pet-friendly policies by landlords, providing potential tenants with a simple form to fill in which asks for a picture of the animal in question, so that we can request that the Freeholder or Management Company Directors grant you permission to keep a pet. Application forms can be found online 24/7 through “The Gateway” which is the web area that Ringley provides for each client. “The Gateway” is accessed via the Ringley homepage at www.ringley.co.uk We agree with Andrew Rosindell when he says that, for most people, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from any other family member. Sadly there are lots of landlords out there who place restrictions on pet ownership and reduce the number of potential tenants who may be interested in letting their property. So if you are hoping to move with your dog or cat this year, make sure they are vaccinated and microchipped before you start viewing new properties and give yourself the best chance of getting off on a good footing with your new landlord.