Local pets charity criticises government's latest U-turn

A recent shock government-backed amendment to the Renters Rights Bill – to withdraw any provision for a landlord to require pet damage insurance – has been denounced as “ill-thought out” and “a betrayal of tenants and pets” by leading Long Eaton-based pets in lets campaign group AdvoCATS.

The insurance provision, proposed by AdvoCATS’ Heads for Tails! campaign, was first included on the then Conservative government’s Renters Reform Bill, and survived the 2024 general election, when it made it onto Labour’s near identical Renters Rights Bill.

"Heads for Tails! won an unprecedented level of support from across the political spectrum, the private rental sector and the animal welfare world because it’s a common-sense solution for tenants and landlords alike” says AdvoCATS founder Jen Berezai.

“Two-thirds of landlords favour insurance as a means of increasing the number of pet friendly rentals, and it’s far more cost-effective for tenants than the average £300 per pet, per year ‘pet rent’ that some landlords currently charge.”

“Pet policies affect over three quarters of tenants” adds Berezai. “Whether they already have pets and are concerned about the difficulty of finding somewhere that allows pets if they have to move, or they aspire to become pet owners, it’s a huge issue. Pets are part of the family, they are massively beneficial to our mental health and it’s incredibly traumatic for owners if they’re forced to choose between their pets and a roof over their heads.

“This is more than a U-turn, it’s a complete betrayal of tenants, landlords and most of all, pets. We implore them to have an urgent re-think.”

AdvoCATS is a voluntary not-for-profit organisation set up in 2018 to offer a free tenant/pet referencing service to landlords and tenants in the East Midlands. The Long Eaton-based charity launched their Heads for Tails! campaign back in September 2021, and were subsequently invited to give evidence to the Renters Reform Bill Committee in November 2023. The campaign was supported by over 80 MPs, Peers and corporate organisations.