The number of animals surrendered to RSPCA South Australia because their owners were unable to secure accommodation increased from 259 animals in the 2019 financial year to 293 animals last financial year.

RSPCA South Australia’s Animal Welfare Advocate Dr Rebekah Eyers commended the real estate industry for encouraging landlords to offer pet friendly properties, but said this had not worked.

Most South Australians own pets (68%), yet only 14% of advertised rentals in SA allow pets. To meet the current demand for pet friendly rentals, this figure needs to quadruple to around 60%.

“Until we get about a four-fold increase in pet friendly rentals, the pressure on aggrieved renters to surrender their pets to us remains,” Dr Eyers says.

“This data on animal surrenders shows the real estate sector’s encouragement to landlords to offer pet friendly rentals has failed, and we predict it will continue to fail.

“The only way to fix this serious human and animal welfare issue is through legal reform.

“South Australia needs to catch up with modern thinking around pets in rentals, and align with Victoria, the ACT and the NT. They all have laws designed to give renters with pets greater access to secure housing.”

MLC Mark Parnell will today reintroduced the Residential Tenancies (Renting with Pets) Amendment Bill, first introduced in late 2019. It aims to help more pet owners secure rentals, by amending the Residential Tenancies Act.

For an organisation focused on rehoming animals to responsible owners, seeing the bonds between good owners and their pets torn apart is distressing for RSPCA staff. Cher Long, who works in the organisation’s strays and surrenders area, is concerned for the emotional wellbeing of people forced to surrender animals in these circumstances.

"I can’t count the number of owners I’ve comforted as they part with pets they adore, simply because they can’t find anywhere to rent that allows animals,” Ms Long says.

“These are good people, good pet owners – yet they’re being knocked back just because their family happens to include a dog or a cat. And the animals are suffering too, because they suddenly find themselves living in an unfamiliar environment without their owners.”

Behind the chronic shortage of pet friendly rentals appears to be an outdated assumption that pets cause property damage. This fear is not evidence-based, with a recent study suggesting damage to rentals by pets is not common and when it does occur, it is rarely serious.

Furthermore, research found landlords who offer pet-friendly properties enjoy significant benefits, including more prospective renters, and tenants who are often more responsible and willing to take longer tenancies.

Currently, most South Australian rentals prohibit pets without special permission from the landlord. Tenants in Victoria, the ACT and the NT still require landlord’s consent. However, landlords who refuse must provide satisfactory reasons to regulatory tribunals. Intended to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants, these tribunals can accept the landlord’s decision to disallow pets on the property or they can rule that the pet can only be kept under certain conditions.

“Covid-19 has put mental health in the spotlight, as social restrictions and financial hardship take a toll, and many people credit their pets with helping them cope,” Dr Eyers says.

“Right now, it is more important than ever for the law to help families and pets stay together in secure rental housing.

“We hope our political representatives recognise the importance of pets to so many people’s wellbeing when they consider the changes proposed to our state’s tenancy laws today.”

For more information on this issue: https://www.rspcasa.org.au/the-issues/pets- in-rentals/

For people experiencing difficulty finding pet friendly accommodation – we suggest they communicate their experiences directly to their state MP and/or to the Premier or Attorney General.