Pets in Rentals - RSPCA South Australia

Support pet-friendly rentalsGo

Help us increase pet-friendly rentals – to keep renters and their beloved pets together in 3 easy steps

1.Head to the green box above

2.Enter your postcode

3.Submit the pre-written letter or write your own

Please email your Member of Parliament using this simple form and ask them to advocate for changes that will increase the number of pet friendly rentals.

And if you or someone you know has or is struggling to find a pet friendly rental, or has had to surrender pets due to not finding a pet friendly rental – please modify this letter to tell your own story to your MP.

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Dear {mptitle} {mpname},

Pets provide companionship and joy and for many people, including the vulnerable, and elderly, a pet may be their closest family member. But just imagine how heartbreaking it would be if you and your family were forced to give up your beloved pets simply because you could not find a pet friendly rental.

Recent media highlights the growing number of renters forced to surrender pets to shelters during the current rental crisis, as well as those choosing to live in cars or stay in unsafe situations because they cannot bear to surrender their pets. In response, rescue organisations are struggling to cope. The number of animals surrendered to RSPCA South Australia by renters unable to find a pet friendly rental has almost tripled over the past 3 years.

Over 68% of South Australians have pets, yet current estimates suggest only 20% of South Australian rental properties will consider pets. With a third of all South Australians renting, this problem causes significant distress to renters.

Currently, the easy default position for South Australian rental providers is to refuse pets. Our state lags behind Victoria, the ACT, QLD and the NT, all of whom have laws that encourage renters and landlords to negotiate conditions under which pets can be kept.

In June this year, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced his government’s commitment to support a bill that will put an end to renters being refused tenancies simply because they have a pet. If passed, this rental reform will mean tenants cannot have their request to keep a pet unreasonably refused, provided the tenant agrees to comply with any reasonable conditions of the landlord.

As your constituent I urge you to support this bill so renters will no longer have to choose between keeping their family pet or keeping a roof over their heads. Please advise me if you’re going to support this rental reform of South Australia’s Residential Tenancies Act.

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Yours sincerely,

[fname] [lname]
[mpsuburb]

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