Ahead of a crucial debate in the Scottish Parliament today, animal welfare organisations are calling on politicians to support stronger protections for pet owners, particularly within the private and social rental sectors. These organisations argue that current housing policies often fail to accommodate the needs of pet owners, making it difficult for them to find suitable, pet-friendly rental properties.
The Scottish Companion Animal Welfare Group, a coalition of influential animal welfare organisations, is at the forefront of this call for change. This group includes Dogs Trust, Scottish SPCA, Cats Protection, Blue Cross, OneKind, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, and PDSA. Together, they have voiced concerns over the increasing number of pets being surrendered by their owners due to the lack of available accommodation that allows pets.
The situation has become more urgent in recent years. In 2024, Dogs Trust in Scotland reported that around 11% of the handover requests they received were attributed to accommodation issues, with owners feeling forced to relinquish their dogs because they could not find a rental property that permitted pets. This follows a worrying trend observed in 2023, when housing-related problems made up 5% of the reasons cited for pet relinquishment in Scotland, according to Cats Protection.
These figures highlight a growing crisis, where pet owners, particularly in the rental sector, are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing that will accept their pets. As a result, many are faced with the heartbreaking decision to part with their beloved animals. The animal welfare groups are urging the Scottish Parliament to take action by implementing policies that would make it easier for pet owners to rent properties without fear of having to give up their pets.
By providing stronger legal protections for pet owners, these organisations hope to reduce the number of pets being surrendered and improve the overall wellbeing of both pets and their owners across Scotland.
Under current law in Scotland, landlords are not legally obligated to consider tenant requests to keep pets. This leaves pet owners in the rental sector in a difficult position, as landlords have the discretion to reject such requests without legal repercussions.
However, proposals within the under-debate Housing (Scotland) Bill aim to change this. If passed, the bill would require landlords to review requests from existing tenants in both private and social rental housing. Under the new rules, requests to keep pets could no longer be unreasonably refused. Additionally, tenants would have the right to challenge a refusal through the courts if they believe their request has been unfairly rejected.
The Scottish Companion Animal Welfare Group (SCAWG) has called for the proposals to go even further. They are advocating for the complete removal of blanket “no-pet” policies, which often restrict pet ownership across the board. Instead, SCAWG urges landlords to assess each pet ownership request individually, considering the specific circumstances of the tenant and the pet.
Earlier this month, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee published a report supporting the idea that tenants should have a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet. The report also recommended that the Scottish Government engage with animal welfare organisations when drafting related regulations, ensuring that animal welfare concerns are properly addressed in any new laws.
A spokesperson for the Dogs Trust commented on the situation, saying, “The past three years have been the busiest on record for the animal welfare sector. Sadly, one of the most common reasons for pet relinquishment is a lack of pet-friendly housing. This isn’t just heartbreaking for owners, but also represents a significant barrier to adoption for the hundreds of animals in our rehoming centres.”
The spokesperson went on to highlight that while the current proposals aim to address the needs of existing tenants, they do not fully tackle the wider issue of the overall shortage of pet-friendly housing. The Dogs Trust has urged the Scottish Government to collaborate with both the private and social rental sectors to help increase confidence among landlords when it comes to renting to pet owners. They believe that this would help ensure that pet owners are not unfairly disadvantaged when searching for suitable accommodation.
Recent research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection has revealed a significant divide among landlords regarding the allowance of pets in rental properties. According to the study, 48% of Scottish landlords say they currently allow pets. However, the number of Scottish tenants who report that their tenancy allows pets is much lower, with only 28% saying their landlord would permit a dog in the property.
The research also uncovered a worrying trend regarding how decisions are made. In more than a third of cases across the UK, when cats or dogs were not allowed by a private landlord, the decision was not based on the individual tenant or pet. Instead, many landlords either followed advice from their letting agents or relied on a standard template policy, which often included a blanket ban on pets.
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