Temporary Accommodation Pet Policy

Introduction

Homelessness Code of Guidance states “Housing authorities will need to be sensitive to importance of pets to some applicants, particularly elderly people, rough sleepers who may rely on pets for companionship. Although it will not always be possible to make provisions for pets, the secretary of state recommends that housing authorities give careful consideration to this aspect when making provision for applicants who wish to retain their pet”.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council understands that keeping assistance or support dogs offers significant benefits to their owners and therefore welcomes it. However, irresponsible ownership can also cause nuisance to others and so it is necessary to have some rules. Ownership of a pet comes with responsibilities, and the purpose of this policy is to set out reasonable requirements for the keeping of assistance or service animals in order to provide a decent, safe and clean area for current and prospective occupiers, Council employees and the public, and to preserve the physical condition of housing properties.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council does not permit dogs or any other pets in temporary accommodation but we take account that some people are assigned service or medical alert dogs.  Generally, the keeping of pets is a breach of the Licence Agreement.

      Section 2.7 of the Exclusive License Agreement states:

You must not keep pets or animals anywhere in your temporary accommodation.

In exceptional circumstances the Temporary Accommodation Manager may review and waive this rule in favour of accepting service or medical alert dogs.

       This policy covers the following:

  • Type of pets/dogs allowed
  • Owners responsibility
  • Action the Council will take where dogs are not kept in reasonable condition or cause nuisance to neighbours.
  • Legal frameworks
  • Risk assessment

Permission will not be given where the keeping of a dog presented as a service dog does not meet the criteria applied to service or medical alert dogs (see appendix 1)  or the condition or illness of the owner would not be considered as a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.  Permission will be withdrawn where there are ongoing problems with pet ownership in the household or we identify there has been a problem in the past.