As a pet owner it has been a struggle to find rental properties that allow pets. Agencies give a blanket "No" and don't seem to want to contact the landlord for negotiation. I spent 2.5 years solid searching when I had to move out and ended up taking interim accommodation which wasn't ideal and it was a very stressful and costly move.

It turns out that a huge populous of people own a pet of some description and disallowing pets means that in desperation people will often have to abandon or rehome a member of thir family [the pet not a human!]. Why should we have to make that decision? My cat has never damaged my home, and I know children and adults who have caused more damage in homes than a cat or dog or hamster.

These rules are backwards and unforgiving. Many people cannot afford to buy, because cheap houses are bought by landlords and rented out in appalling conditions; preventing people getting on the housing ladder. Pets are a calming influence and can be so beneficial. I have been lucky, but so many pets become homeless because their owners are given an impossible choice. This is heartbreaking and cruel and also discriminatory. We pet owners should demand equal rights.