Anyone who has searched the web for rental housing is familiar with the "no pets allowed" criteria.
In most cases, when it comes to renting new or multi-room properties, no pets is a given.
According to the BC Residental Tenancy Act and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, B.C. landlords have the power to “restrict the size, kind, and the number of pets” a tenant can bring into the home.
This means landlords also have the power to disallow pets in the rental property.
But that could all be about to change if a new petition has its way.
An online petition calling for the abolition of unreasonable pet restrictions in BC rental housing has been created by an organization called Pets OK BC.
The petition aims to repeal and replace sections of provincial legislation in order to allow tenants living in rental units to keep pets in their homes.
“Amidst historic low vacancy rates, many BC residents have very few options when it comes to seeking a place to live,” says the petition. “As a result, many tenants end up surrendering or abandoning their pets.”
Pets OK argues that BC’s strict rental unit pet policies lead many tenants to surrender or abandon their pets.
“The BC SPCA reports that 7,000 animals were abandoned or surrendered in 2014. Surrendered pets alone make up nearly a third of all animals taken in by shelter,” the petition states.
Pets OK BC says that so far, over 18,000 British Columbians have signed the online petition.
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