More organisations have lent their support to the Heads for Tails! campaign for a change in the law to make renting property with pets easier.
The campaign, which is spearheaded by East Midlands charity AdvoCATS, is calling for an amendment to the Tenant Fees Act 2019, to allow a landlord to either request a financially-capped pet deposit or stipulate pet damage insurance must be held by any tenant wanting to keep a pet.
Newly committed to the campaign are charity International Cat Care and trade body the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA).
The campaign was originally born out of MP Andrew Rosindell’s 2020 private members bill (dubbed Jasmine’s Law) and has already secured endorsement from over 30 organisations including the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), National Office for Animal Health (NOAH), the Property Redress Scheme and Propertymark, as well as more than 40 MPs and peers.
AdvoCATS co-founder Jen Berezai welcomed the additional support. She said: “To have two such well-respected industry names back our campaign is fantastic. We are in discussion with a number of other organisations which have expressed interest in the campaign. It strengthens our case for the government to adopt the Heads for Tails! Proposals, which will open up pet ownership for thousands – maybe even hundreds of thousands – of tenants.”
Nicole Paley, deputy chief executive of the PFMA, said: “We are delighted to add our support to the important work of AdvoCATS. Our pets have such a positive impact on our lives from reducing stress and anxiety to providing much valued companionship. It is vital we address how we can support owners renting with pets.”
Dr Sarah Ellis, head of cat advocacy at International Cat Care, added: “In a world where renting is commonplace and where there are so many pet cats relinquished and/or needing homes, making renting with pets easier is a critical contribution to sustaining positive wellbeing for people and pet cats.”
AdvoCATS co-founder Jennifer Berezai and Mia
