The Greens welcome the passage through the House of Assembly of reforms which will give renters the right to keep pets. The right for renters to own a pet is something we have been seeking for years, and we acknowledge the collective efforts of the Tenants’ Union and the Dogs Home of Tasmania, amongst others.
Pets are part of the family and they deliver so many benefits, from health and wellbeing, to education and responsibility. Having a pet shouldn’t impact Tasmanian renters’ ability to find a safe and affordable home. For too long there’s been limited legal protections for renters with pets.
This has meant that too many renters have had to make the impossible choice between giving up their family pet, and finding a place to call home. In the cost of living and housing crises, renters are already doing it tough, so this reform gives some of them some relief.
It’s long overdue, but these changes are a great step forward for renters who have pets. Without pressure from the Greens and community advocates, the Liberals would never have been forced to take up reforms allowing pets in rentals during the 2024 election.
While progress on pets is welcome, overdue housing reforms in other areas remain behind and Tasmania is still not building enough social and affordable housing. We’ll keep fighting to ensure other, real rights for renters are progressed and problems, like the loss of whole-home rentals to short stay accommodation, is finally addressed.
