Landlords call for dog law extension

Housing associations Peabody and Affinity Sutton are pressing for laws banning dogs from being out of control in public places to be extended into homes and communal areas of flats.

The proposal is one of several made in a government consultation about amending the law on dangerous dogs.

Liz Chambers, community safety manager of Peabody, said social landlords currently had to prosecute most dog attack cases using civil law, such as injunctions, but judges did not always grant the restrictions the landlord wanted.

She gave an example of a tenant whose dog attacked a neighbour who was visiting the house, leaving her with permanent injuries. The association sought an injunction which would have forced the tenant to muzzle her dog. However, the judge only granted an order forcing the tenant to keep the dog under control and on a lead outside her house and recommended that the association push for eviction, which Ms Chambers felt was ‘draconian’.

She said the association would ‘definitely support’ a change in the law to ensure dogs must be under control in the home as well as in public.

Tracy Evans, head of housing (south) at Affinity Sutton, added: ‘If it [dangerous dogs legislation] was extended, it would cover dogs behaving dangerously in private space and gardens, it would make it a criminal offence and make it much easier for courts to understand.’

The consultation, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, closes on 1 June 2010.

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