Pet landlord push slammed

PROPOSED new tenancy laws which would force landlords to show good reason to not allow tenants with pets into their rental properties have been described as ludicrous by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania.

Brightside Farms, the Tenants’ Union of Tasmania and Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania are calling for changes to Tasmania’s tenancy laws, to make pets allowed in rental properties by default unless a landlord can provide reasons to exclude them.

But REIT president Tony Collidge — a self-confessed dog lover — said it was ludicrous to suggest a land lord should not be able to refuse a tenant with pets.

“It’s not the tenant who has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the property,” he said.

“The tenant should abide by the wishes of the landlord.”

RSPCA CEO Andrew Byrne said more than 1000 of the 4000 animals brought into the society each year were surrendered and most of those were because of people moving or not being allowed to have animals at rental properties.

“If we could solve that problem we would not have to house so many pets needing a new home and could focus more on protecting animals which is our prime role,” Mr Byrne said.

Mr Collidge said his company had a case recently where a tenant had agreed to have two dogs on the property and for them to remain outside.

“They ended up with three dogs ... the dogs were not meant to be inside but as soon as you walked in you could smell the dogs and there was fur and scratches on the floor.”