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REAL ESTATE
Pets in rental homes emerges as an election issue P oliticians like to talk a lot about housing affordability and mental health. These are two of the biggest by Carlito Pablo and recommendations. “While Task Force members heard the desires of pet owners to require rental housing providers to allow pets as a way to inissues that affect the lives of people in B.C. crease the supply of pet-friendly housing,
What is often not mentioned is that pets members also heard from many renters and in many cases are at the nexus of these con- rental housing providers who did not supcerns. Companion animals are vital to the port this legal change,” the report stated. mental wellness of many people. The report also noted concerns about
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However, it’s not easy to find a place “allergies, damage and disturbances to where pets are welcome, because landlords other renters”. Also, some housing providcan prohibit them under the law. Where ers “indicated that they would rather refinding an affordable home is already dif- move homes from the rental market than ficult, the no-pets policy adds another bar- be forced to allow people with pets to rent rier to housing security. their properties”.
This is where animal activists like Jor- And so, “at this time, the Task Force dan Reichert come in. was not persuaded that requiring all rental
“If housing is a priority for us, then housing providers to allow pets would be we need to look at pets as well as a part fair for landlords or for renters who want of our housing policy,” Reichert said in a or need to live in pet-free buildings”. phone interview. Meanwhile, Vancouver city council-
Reichert spoke to the Straight from lor Jean Swanson is taking action about the community of Victoria–Beacon Hill, where is he running as an independent For years, B.C. renters have been asking, lobbying, and demonstrating to persuade municipal and provincial politicians to allow them to keep pets in rental dwellings. Photo by Tamara Bellis. B.C.’s no-pets policy in rental homes. She has brought forward a motion to ask staff candidate for MLA in the October 24 prov- by leaving pets out of the conversation. tions on owners. to look into what mechanisms the city can incial election. “It’s about people having companion In 2018, the B.C. NDP government use to “curb landlords’ right to refuse rent-
“I’m the only candidate—maybe in the animals that can provide them with a formed a rental housing task force to re- al on the basis of pet ownership”. province, but certainly locally—that is go- sense of well-being, acceptance, maybe a view tenancy laws in the province. The motion also aims to have council ing to talk about this kind of thing as im- companionship that they wouldn’t have The task force’s online survey results ask the mayor to “advocate to the province portant,” Reichert explained, “and part of anywhere else,” he said. showed that comments about pets were for the prohibition of ‘no pets’ clauses in what I do as a candidate is to bring people, Having a pet also helps in physical fitness, double the number of comments about af- rental contracts”. animals, and the environment together.” as taking a dog out for a walk, for example, fordability, the next most popular issue. “Ontario prohibited ‘no pets’ policies
Reichert, a vegan, is currently the West provides needed exercise for an owner. However, it concluded that the “high in rental units, and this law has brought Coast campaign officer of the Animal Al- Reichert is also the cofounder of Pets number of pet-related comments may be benefit to renters and pets for decades in liance of Canada. He is also deputy leader OK B.C., a group that advocates for pet- due to a campaign by one advocacy organ- Ontario,” Swanson’s motion reads. of the Animal Protection Party of Canada. friendly housing. The organization wants ization that encouraged people to com- According to Swanson, the current
He was previously employed for 11 years the province to change the Residential ment on this issue”. legislation in B.C. “discriminates against as a mental health and addiction worker with Tenancy Act and remove its no-pet clause. In December 2018, the task force—led renters that have pets and are trying to find the Vancouver Island Health Authority. Ac- It also seeks amendments to the Strata by Spencer Chandra Herbert, who is cur- affordable housing”. cording to Reichert, politicians are missing out on a significant aspect of mental health Property Act, which currently allows strata corporations to impose pet restricrently seeking another term as Vancouver–West End MLA—submitted its report The motion is included in city council’s agenda for Thursday (October 15). g
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