The Hidden Crisis of Pet-Friendly Rentals in Canada

In Canada, the regulations around whether landlords are allowed to deny rentals to tenants with pets is regulated at a provincial level - meaning each province has it's own set of rules around this. However, even in provinces where landlords are not permitted to deny a tenant a rental because they have a pet, many landlords are still hesitant to rent out their properties to pet owners, meaning that anyone looking to own a pet and find a place to live faces an uphill battle. With pet-friendly rentals often costing a premium, requiring high damage deposits and non-refundable pet fees, as well as restrictions on the height, weight, breed, number and types of pets allowed, Canadian pet-owning renters are facing a crisis.  

According to Nicole Frey, Founder of Canada's Animal Food Bank, the lack of available and affordable pet-friendly housing creates a hidden crisis.  "We've provided pet food, and sometimes temporary fostering, for pet owners who are facing eviction with their pets and who are unable to find affordable pet-friendly housing.  We've also provided pet food for pet owners who are spending most of their pay cheque on the rent for their pet-friendly housing. I had someone say to me the other day, if you can't afford a pet, you don't deserve a pet - and I challenged them to rethink that because if the pet owner chooses to surrender their pet, the cost burden of caring for that animal then falls on already at or over capacity rescue or animal shelter.  Rescues and shelters are heavily reliant on donations from the general public, and so now we've just displaced the cost burden but also added the mental and emotional toll on both the human and pet of being separated."

We must work collectively to change the views and attitudes that come with pet-owning tenants.  There are two sides to the coin - we need to pressure the government to mandate not allowing pets to be a disqualification from renting.  We also need to ensure that pet restrictions in leases don't cause discrimination about certain breeds, types and sizes of pets that continue to result in surrenders or homelessness.  But we also must ensure pet-owners understand what it means to become a responsible pet tenant.

Consider signing the Animal Food Bank's petition regarding the need for a recognized, trusted, national pet-friendly certification program for both landlords and tenants that would encourage and certify pet-friendly landlords and tenants, along with the creation of a national pet-tenant registry.

Together, we can make a difference for pets and their guardians.

Read more here: https://afbpetclub.org/hidden-crisis-pet-friendly-rentals-canada/