Pet ban for residents
A PET ‘ban’ for new council tenants across Nuneaton and Bedworth is set to be rubber stamped.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has admitted that, in the past, strict rules on pet ownership have not always been followed and with very little consistency.
In fact, ‘regrettably’ according to the council , some tenants in communal blocks had been allowed to have pets when they should not have been.
But now a new policy has been drawn up, clearly outlining the rules and it awaits being given the green light.
Under the new proposals, those tenants who currently have pets will be allowed to keep them but all new tenants will have to apply for permission.
In a council report, Dawn Dawson, director of housing and communities at the Town Hall , said: “The landlord services team are experiencing difficulties in managing tenant’s expectations in respect of keeping a pet at their property.
“There are also issues with dog fouling and nuisance from pets is prevalent throughout our stock with is subsequently having an impact on our neighbourhoods.
“The current position is one of unspoken tolerance at present and there is no clear information or guidance on the conditions of keeping a pet.
“Historically, there has been no consistency with regards to tenants having to request permission to keep a pet, despite this being a condition in their tenancy agreement.
“Under the council’s Tenancy Agreement, tenants and anyone living with the tenant must not keep any animal in or near the property unless they have written permission to do so.
“Regrettably, permission has been granted to tenants living in communal blocks when it should not have been, therefore this policy will aim to deal with this situation and will provide further detail about keeping pets for new and existing tenants.”
Consultation about the new policy has been undertaken with the council ‘s Resident Partnership and it was also debated by the housing and communities overview and scrutiny panel back in March.
Councillor Barry Longden, cabinet member for housing, health and communities at the Town Hall , will look at the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday.
All new tenants will have to apply for permission to keep a pet and existing tenants will have to apply for permission for any additional pets.
Information will be recorded on the pets kept in council properties. The policy sets out:
That tenants must seek written permission to keep a pet
When the council will refuse permission to keep pets
The types of pet that can be kept domestically
How many pets can be kept in a council property
The conditions the council will attach to permission to keep pets
How the council will enforce the policy, including applications from tenants who already have a pet.