Deputy urges caution on law for tenants with pets

The States are to debate proposals that landlords should not refuse pets without good reason

Jersey's States could stop short of giving housing tenants legal rights to keep pets following an appeal to change the law in favour of renters.

One politician has argued there should be guidelines instead.

In an amendment to a proposition put forward in October, deputy David Warr said laws would be costly and a code of practice would be better for tenants and landlords.

The States are to debate proposals from deputy Catherine Curtis who wants to change the law so landlords cannot refuse pets without good reason.

A proposition was put forward by Curtis to request the minister for housing makes the necessary legislative changes before 31 March 2025.

She said giving up a pet could be "hugely distressing'' for tenants, adding there should be a clear explanation of what reasons landlords have for refusing animals.

The States report said a census showed about half of households in Jersey live in rented properties.

"Therefore, this proposition could improve the lives of a lot of islanders, benefiting the animals too," Curtis said.

In a new amendment, Warr said a legislative framework for this would be "excessive and costly", arguing in favour of an accepted guidance framework to allow the policy on pets to "evolve for the benefit of both tenants and landlords".

'Unnecessary stress'

Citing risks to "enshrining" the right to own a pet in law, he said the onus would be on the landlord to demonstrate reasonable objection, as opposed to a tenant proving they could look after a pet.

A law change would also place "unnecessary stress" on the tenant-landlord relationship, he added.

A code of practice, he said, would be more beneficial to tenants and landlords with "less risk" of straining relationships and contractual agreements, while it could be drawn up by an officer, with costs "likely to be included in the departmental budget for the year as it will be business as usual".