On the 17th May 2023 the UK announced the Renters (Reform) Bill, ensuring responsible pet owners who rent will be given rights to keep their beloved Pets.  

Under this new bill, announced by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, landlords will no longer be able to unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge unfair decisions through a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman. Dogs Trust, UK.

According to Dogs Trust Ireland as of February 2023, there has been an 80 per cent increase in the number of people who are forced to give up their dogs due to landlords having a no pet policy in their property.

The dogs trust charity in Ireland has seen 394 surrender requests between Christmas 2022 and the end of January 2023 with one third due to rental accommodation requests.

Animal welfare charities in Ireland are at capacity, unable to cope with the volume of displaced pets, resulting form Landlords refusing to allow families and individuals to keep their beloved companions. This is causing unnecessary, distress, suffering, hardship and in some cases loss of life. Its a disgrace that individuals are being forced to give up their beloved pets just to keep the roof over their own head. 

I ask you to call on Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien to follow the lead of this Bill and implement the same rights for tenants and their pets in Ireland.