Labour lead calls for tenants to have a right to pets..

Under the policy ‘Animal Welfare for the Many not the Few’, Labour aims to give tenants a ‘default right’ to their furry-friends, making all private landlords hot under the collar.

However, a new breed of landlords are backing the campaign.

Be:here, a brand-spanking new development in Hayes at the Old Vinyl Factory, is now letting apartments and offer pet-friendly rentals to tenants.

Mintel’s most recent statistics on households owning pets reveal a decline from 63% in 2012 to 56% in 2017 in UK households owning domesticated friends.

Be:here found an opportunity. 

“Some of our pet-friendly apartments have large, private and secure gardens perfect for furry friends to run around – that’s pretty unique in apartment living, especially in London," said assistant property manager of be:here Hayes, Akash Sharma.

He added: “The development’s feline residents are not forgotten and can indulge in the cat nip especially planted in the podium gardens! We try to help our four-legged residents adjust to their new homes by giving them special attention (and even some tasty treats) on move-in day.”

Be:here have best-accommodated the felines and canines of the Hillingdon borough.

In particular, Astro, an ex-racing greyhound, now enjoying his comfortable apartment with owner Abhishek Krishna. 

Rescued from ‘Forever Hounds Trust’, Astro is now a resident at be:here with owner Abhisnek, who chose be:here for its perfect location and pet-friendly quality,  who exclaims “At times I think it wasn’t I who rescued Astro – it was Astro who rescued me!”

From kennel to comfort, without be:here’s pet-friendly policy Astro would not have been able to call his new house a home, which CEO of DogFriendly, Steve Bennett, states is a frequent question by many looking to rent.

Mr Bennett said: “One of the most common questions that we receive from dog owners is where can they find private landlords who will allow dogs?”

Bennett owning many dogs himself, understands the struggle tenants face, exclaiming that “the choice of properties available to my family was severely restricted.”

Bennett also mentioned, that “accommodation suppliers who welcome dogs tell us that dog owners usually take more care of their rooms and their properties than non-dog owners”.

As Bennett believes, there is no time like the present and “it really is time for landlords to recognise that one in three households own a dog – which is a massive potential market too many landlords are still ignoring”.

Although, not all agree with pets in private properties, as Matthew Pearce, 20, an Estate Agent working in sales and lettings from Hayes, explained.

He said: “Landlords shouldn’t be forced to have pet-friendly apartments, it’s their property, in their name and they should make the decisions on how they want it to be kept and lived in”.

Labour MP for Hayes, John McDonnell seems very supportive of be:here and other pet-friendly accommodation.

“I think that this is a positive way forward and I welcome the opening of pet-friendly rented accommodation in my constituency”.

He proclaimed his concerns with the unfairness of current regulations allowing landlords to refuse pet-owners to be tenants, stating “It has always struck me as unfair that if you lived in your own home, you can keep a pet and yet if you live in a rented property, you are barred from doing so.”

“I know of constituents’ who have had to give up their pets due to living in rented properties. It is heart-breaking for them. This in turn puts pressure on the rehoming charities”.

As Mr McDonnell explains, “pets give comfort and provide companionship” and we should return the favour and provide them with homes and love.