Canine caveats
Traditionally many providers - where they have bothered to mention pets in tenancy agreements - have simply banned dogs. However, some, such as Edinburgh Council and Wales & West Housing Association, have recognised this as a draconian approach and almost impossible to enforce fairly. They are piloting the approach of allowing tenants to have dogs in exchange for a commitment to ‘responsible ownership’.
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So far so good. But where this breaks down is when the tenant doesn’t keep their side of the bargain. The only sanction available to housing officers under the Housing Act is eviction. This is heavy-handed. The Communities and Local Government department has just published new guidance on the issue which advises landlords to work with the police and animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA to have the animals removed. The use of anti-social behaviour orders in this area is being explored and seems a useful means of finding some middle ground on this thorny issue.