Whereas companion animals have been proven to enhance physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, particularly for vulnerable British Columbians such as women, young people, households with lower incomes, renters and those experiencing homelessness who identify greater reliance on their companion animals for support and greater difficulty finding affordable, pet-friendly housing; And whereas the lack of pet-friendly housing continues to be the primary reason for the surrender of healthy, loved, adult companion animals to the BC SPCA, despite the provincial governments work to increase housing affordability and supply: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to direct BC Housing to develop strategies and guidance that support pet-friendly housing in the non-profit sector; And be it further resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to consider pet friendly housing in the BC Housing Strategy update and to work with stakeholders including but not limited to landlords and tenants associations, animal welfare organizations, public health, mental health and seniors organizations, and poverty reduction and homelessness advocates to find cooperative solutions to increase the availability and affordability of pet-friendly housing for all British Columbians while providing appropriate protections and mechanisms of compensation for landlords.
Ministry of Housing The Province recognizes that pet policies must balance the needs and preferences of renters and housing providers to avoid negatively affecting the overall rental housing supply. BC Housing and non-profit providers recognize that people love their pets and want to secure housing where their companions are welcome. Most social housing units in BC are operated by non-profit housing providers that are responsible for establishing their own pet policies in their buildings. BC Housing directly managed buildings have a pet-friendly approach, and BC Housing provides guidance to providers about how pet policies and rules can balance the interests of renters and housing providers. In addition, service providers recognize the financial pressures that low-income renters face and do not require tenants in rent-geared to-income units to pay a pet deposit. BC Housing is committed to working with their non-profit partners on opportunities to expand pet-friendly policies where appropriate. In April 2018, the Rental Housing Task Force was appointed to better understand what changes may be needed to modernize BCs tenancy laws. The task force heard from many landlords, tenants, non-profit providers, and cooperatives who are concerned about pets in rental housing. The task force also heard the desires of pet owners to require market and non-market rental housing providers to allow pets and increase the supply of pet-friendly housing. Members also heard from renters and housing providers that did not support potential changes to pet policies, citing concerns about allergies, damage, and disturbances to other renters. Some housing providers indicated that they would rather remove homes from the rental market than be forced to allow people with pets to rent their properties. The Rental Housing Task Force was not persuaded that requiring all housing providers, including non-profit service providers, to allow pets would be fair for housing providers or renters who want or need to live in pet-free buildings. Non-profit service providers are governed by the Residential Tenancy Act RTA, which enables housing providers and renters to negotiate a pet clause and include it in their tenancy agreements. For renters with certified guide andor service dogs, housing providers are still required to provide accommodations as per the Human Rights Code. The Province is supportive of housing providers and renters continuing to work together to negotiate pet policies that balance the interests of renters with rental housing providers.