A CALL for more rights for pet owners is a step closer after the Greens introduced a Bill to amend residential tenancy laws in the state’s upper house last week.
If supported by the South Australian Parliament, pets will be allowed in all rental properties unless certain circumstances are declared.
The current default position of most rentals is no pets are allowed.
As a 23 year old, Portia Feast said it was already hard enough to find a rental property in Mount Gambier with minimal rental history, but being a pet owner had made it “near impossible”.
Ms Feast said although she was a responsible pet owner with no bad rental history, she had not been able to find a suitable home.
“I was living in private rentals because I just could not find anywhere through a real estate that would let me have a dog,” she said.
“That just meant I was living with someone who owned their own home, so all I really had was a bedroom.
“When I had to move out of my last house I could not find anywhere in town I could have my dog so I ended up having to move to Pelican Point with family.”
Ms Feast has two jobs in Mount Gambier and travels more than 80km each day from her home to work.
According to the RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League, more than 360 pets were surrendered to South Australian shelters in the 2018/19 financial year due to owners unable to find a pet-friendly home.
South East Animal Welfare League operations coordinator Caitlin Mellor said people not being able to find suitable rental properties was one of the main reasons pets were surrendered.
“It is obviously a very upsetting time for the pet owners and not something we ever want to see,” she said.
“This also means added pressure on us to look after more animals.
“If the Bill is passed, it would relieve that pressure on us.”
Despite the added stress of travel each day, Ms Feast said she would never give up her pet.
“I am very lucky to have somewhere to go with my dog, I could not imagine giving up a pet to a shelter because I had nowhere to live,” she said.
“My dog has helped me so much with my mental health.
“He gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning, I get up and feed him and take him for walks.
“As a single person, having that support there and coming home to my dog is something I could not replace.”
Ms Feast said she had no plans to continue looking for housing in the Blue Lake city but was hopeful the Bill would pass.
“At the moment with work and study and everything else, it is just easier for me to stay where I am rather than have the added stress of trying to find somewhere to live,” she said.
“I do hope they change the laws so in the future I can find a home and so can other people like me.
“I understand pets damage things and that should not be the homeowners responsibility – but I would welcome any changes even if that meant renters with pets had to pay extra bond or have proof they were a responsible pet owner.
“There could be a database implemented to keep track of how people with pets treated their rental homes so everyone would be accountable for their actions.
“I do not think it is fair for the minority that do the wrong thing to make it impossible for the us who take responsibility.”
SA Greens leader Mark Parnell said pets were a part of a family and renters unable to keep them “was an awful position” to be put in.
“Sadly, this is a reality for many South Australians,” he said.
“With home ownership becoming increasingly elusive, the number of people renting is rising.
“We need to make sure that where rental properties are suitable for pets, these pets are allowed to stay with their families.
Mr Parnell said the Greens’ Bill would also protect homeowners who did not want to open their rental properties to pets.
“If a person applies to keep a pet and the landlord does not consent, the landlord can apply to SACAT (South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and SACAT will determine whether the pet can stay and any conditions that would be imposed, after giving consideration to the circumstances,” he said.
“The Greens believe that this is a much fairer system than we currently have where the tenant has no rights at all when it comes to keeping their pets with them.
“Having to give up your much loved pet in order to have a place to live is not a choice we think people should have to make.”
