Tenants Union angry over 15-month delay in pets in rentals reform

One young Tasmanian living in a tent has had to choose between a home and a pet 15 months after an election promise to allow having pets in rentals. Her story.

A depressed woman sitting alone is a dark tunnel with light at the other end.

Hayley Ferguson is living in a tent and struggling to get a rental because she has a young dog.

The Tenants Union of Tasmania is angry that allowing pets in rentals has still not become law – 15 months after it was first announced.

Ms Ferguson, 22, was living in a social housing property but had to move out due to community violence.

“I had my windows smashed, my house was robbed and I didn’t feel safe,” she said.

“I have a three-year-old daughter and I need a house to get her home again,” she said.

“I just want stable, safe accommodation.”

Ms Ferguson has been homeless for nearly a month and she and her partner, who is a disability pensioner, are desperate to find a place to rent.

Homeless woman lying on the street. Picture: iStock

She has applied for private rental but believes having an 18-month-old shar pei/pitbull cross puppy is making it harder.

“We have a friend who takes him for a couple of days and he has been in the dogs’ home too,” Ms Ferguson said.

“I’m on priority list for (social) housing but that is a long wait.

“We had to buy a second tent because the rain soaked through our other tent.”

Ms Ferguson is looking for a two-bedroom unit or house and is able to pay up to $500 per week.

Tenants Union principal solicitor Ben Bartl said allowing pets in rentals was the first policy announced in the 2024 state election.

“We’re 15 months down the track and we still don’t have the law in place,” he said.

Tenants Union of Tasmania principal solicitor Ben Bartl and Angel who was surrendered to the Ten Lives Cat Centre because a family could not find a rental property that allowed pets. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It is incredibly disappointing that this important reform has not been passed and means that Tasmania remains the only Australian jurisdiction in which landlords have unfettered discretion to refuse pets.

“The failure to pass this important reform means that renters are having to choose between a home and the pet that they love.”

The pets in rentals legislation passed the House of Assembly but has not yet been debated in the Legislative Council.

Mr Bartl said because there would be a new parliament after the July 19 election the bill would have to be tabled again and there was no guarantee it would be a priority for a new government

Dogs Home of Tasmania CEO Mark Wild said of the 1000 dogs surrendered each year about 150 were people who were not able to take their pets to rental properties.

“We suspect there are more but people are embarrassed or humiliated to say why they are giving up their pet,” he said.

“But that’s 150 families that are being ripped apart.”

Originally published as Tenants Union angry over 15-month delay in pets in rentals reform