This presentation will consider the legal implications of ‘no pet’ covenants in residential leases. There is no law in the UK permitting the use of ‘no pet’ covenants; it is left to the discretion of the landlord and freedom of contract of the parties. Is this the correct approach bearing in mind the current housing shortages? The presentation examines the law in England and Wales for the enforcement of ‘no pet’ covenants and considers the need for legislation to govern the use of such covenants. Recent changes in housing law and policy in parts of Australia and New Zealand will be considered together with the deliberations of the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee that is are currently considering whether legislation is needed in Scotland to prohibit the use of ‘no pet’ covenants in residential leases.

References:
Rook, D ‘For the Love of Darcie: recognising the human-companion animal relationship in housing law and policy’ (2018) Liverpool Law Review, Vol.39, 29.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10991-018-9209-y

Speaker: Debbie Rook LL.B (Hons); LLM; Fellow of the Higher Education Authority

Debbie is a Principal Lecturer in Law at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne where she has taught for over 20 years. Prior to joining academia she was a practising solicitor at the law firm Freshfields on Fleet Street, London which is one of the top 10 Law firms in the country. She specialises in Animal Law and Land Law and has a number of publications in these fields including her most recent, ‘For the Love of Darcie: recognising the human-companion animal relationship in housing law and policy’ (2018) Liverpool Law Review, Vol.39, 29. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10991-018-9209-y