A new piece of state legislation proposed in California could be a hopeful sign for pet owners who have trouble renting due to their furry friends.
Author of the Bill
Matt Haney, chair of the California Renters’ Caucus and member of the San Francisco Assembly, has introduced the new bill on behalf of California pet owners struggling to find accommodation due to rampant no-pet policies.
Potential New Rules for Landlords
If passed into law, the AB 221 bill would only allow landlords to impose no-pet policies or charge extra fees for pets if they have good reasons to justify them. They would not be allowed to ask tenants if they have pets until after a rental application has already been approved.
Next Step to Law
The State Assembly Judiciary Committee has already passed AB 221 and is on its way to the Assembly floor.
Contributing to the Housing Crisis?
Haney and the many advocates who support the bill believe that restrictive anti-pet rental rules directly contribute to the ongoing housing crisis in California.
12 Million People
“12 million people across the state are being denied access to that housing because they have a companion pet,” Haney told reporters.
Most Renters Denied by Most Rentals
“The majority of renters in our state, pet owners, are denied access to the majority of rental units,” he continued. “That makes no sense at all and it’s dramatically exacerbating the housing crisis.”
A Rock and a Hard Place
These strict rules around renting have placed many California pet owners in an unbearable position – being forced to choose between going without stable housing or surrendering their pets to animal shelters in order to procure a home.
Shelter Surveys
In his press release discussing the bill, Haney also cited a recent survey of 240 animal shelters in California. Of the 67,881 pets surrendered to these shelters, the leading reason for surrender was the lack of pet-friendly housing accessibility.
Animal Rights Advocates Speak Out
Animal rights advocates in California, who support Haney’s proposed legislation, have also spoken out about the treatment of pets in the state rental market.
“It’s Tougher for People With Pets”
“Many states, such as California, are increasingly becoming unaffordable to live in for most of the population,” said Kitty Block, the CEO of the United States Humane Society. “It’s still tougher for people with pets; pet-inclusive, affordable housing is almost impossible to find.”
California Shelters Overwhelmed
It’s an issue for California animal shelters, too, many of which are overwhelmed by surrendered pets and unable to feed and accommodate the staggering amount of animals they take in.
Choosing Between a Home and a Pet
“We’re seeing a huge spike in people who are saying they are newly homeless,” said Ann Dunn, the director of Oakland Animal Services. “Or they’re choosing between being housed or being able to keep their pets.”
More Surrendered Pets
According to Oakland, her shelter has seen the number of surrendered pets rise from 240 a month on average in 2022 to 350 in 2024.
A Human Right
Jenny Berg, the director of the Humane Society’s California chapter, described housing as a human right that “should not be limited because tenants are forced to choose between keeping their pet or putting a roof over their head.”
California Problems
No-pet policy restrictions have become a problem for renters around the country, but they seem to have caused particular issues in the Golden State.
More People Affected
California has the second-highest renters, meaning many more people are affected by these policies compared to most other states. 17 million households and individuals are renters, and 70% are pet owners, according to KSWB-TV San Diego.
Very Few Pet-Friendly Rentals
These numbers were then compared to the number of pet-friendly rentals. For example, only 21% of rentals in San Diego are pet-friendly. In Los Angeles, it’s just 26%.
Landlords Are Concerned
Of course, some California landlords have expressed trepidation over the potential law, pointing to higher maintenance costs for properties with animals on-site, liability issues, and disruptions to neighboring tenants.
“Humans Have Pets”
But Haney and his supporters have posited that the bill would help tenants to be more honest about their pets and pet-related damage, as they would not feel pressure to hide them.“Like it or not humans have pets,” Haney added. “They always have and they always will.”
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Anastasia Shuraeva.
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