Government unveils new housing plan with major change for pet owners in rental homes

The Government has today published a major new housing plan titled "Delivering Home, Building Communities", which is scheduled to go before Cabinet on Wednesday morning.

The new plan proposes a significant overhaul of rental and social-housing policy - including a move to end blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements across Ireland.

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The plan, to be formally launched this week by Minister for Housing James Browne, carries a range of ambitious targets and reforms including,

• A target of 12,000 new social homes
• Expanded powers for local authorities to issue compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) on derelict and vacant homes in order to bring them back into use
• A specific measure that State funded bodies (Approved Housing Bodies) will no longer be permitted to impose blanket bans on tenants having pets
• Protocols to make it easier for people fleeing domestic and gender-based violence to transfer their waiting-list time between local authorities
• A broader goal to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030 and 90,000 "starter homes" for first time buyers in the next five years

One of the less supported but socially significant reforms is the end of blanket bans on pets in many rental homes.

Until now, many AHB-funded properties, and often private rentals, have included tenancy clauses stating "no pets allowed". The new plan ensures that those bans will be removed marking a significant move for pet owners across the country.

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The change will work on a case by case assessment as landlords may still be able to refuse pets where there is clear and legitimate reason e.g. small shared spaces, but they will no longer be allowed to impose an automatic ban.

This is a move that has been long backed by campaigners who say thousands of tenants across Ireland have had to make the heartbreaking decision to give up their beloved pets to move into a home.

Labour TD Mark Wall for Kildare South has long called for these blanket bans saying, We shouldn't have a bizarre situation where people are being asked to choose between a roof over their head of their family pet".

Landlords will also be reportedly warned that they cannot charge extra deposits for pets as the maximum total deposit is to remain at one month's rent.

As of yet, the new plan pertains to just AHBs and social housing, tenants may still struggle with a pet ban from the private rental sector.

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The Government's new plan represents a shift in reformers' thinking, not only about how many homes to build but also about the people that will be living with them.

The move to abolish blanket bans on pets in rental homes may seem like a small detail in the context of Ireland's housing crises, but it will make a massive different to pet owners.

The key however, is in the details - how fast the policy is applied, how private landlords will respond, and whether it becomes a genuine shift in rental practice.

The plans will be brought to Cabinet on Wednesday morning.