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Islanders are being asked share their views on whether Jersey's rental laws should have a provision to prevent landlords from imposing blanket bans on pets.
The Renters (Reform) Bill, proposed to the UK Parliament last week, has been described as a “once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws.”
One key element of the proposals would give tenants the legal right to request a pet in their home, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.
Tech start-up PetsScore, which conducted research on this topic in 2021, found that only 7% of UK landlords accept pets. As a result, the Chief Executive of charity Dogs Trust told the BBC that this reform could be "a potential game-changer".
With Jersey's Housing Minister also working on updating the island's rental laws, Express asked whether the issue of pets had been considered.
Deputy David Warr said his law drafting instructions for the new Residential Tenancy Law do "not address the issue of pets", as "to date, this hasn’t been an issue of concern raised by those who have responded to the consultation on my proposals".
Pictured: The Renters (Reform) Bill would give tenants the legal right to request a pet in their home.
However, he added: "While there is a public consultation process underway, I would encourage Islanders to make suggestions on whether a provision for pets should be included in Jersey’s updated Residential Tenancy Law.
"Whilst there is not a legal provision in Jersey making acceptance of pets mandatory, many landlords do allow tenants to have pets. Our own social housing provider, Andium Homes, does allow tenants to have pets, and some of the housing trusts allow their tenants to have pets in houses.”
Chair of Jersey Rescue Dogs, Jennifer Lay, told Express: "Anything that lets people keep their pets is a good thing."
She added that she often encounters people struggling to find a place that will allow them to keep their pet, and acknowledged that it can be particularly difficult for those moving to the island who lack housing options due to their lack of Entitled residential status.
She said: "I know that, if I couldn't find anywhere that would take me and my dog, I would be sleeping in my car. He is part of my family."
Islanders can email their views to housingmatters@gov.je or submit them by clicking HERE.
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