Need for Pet-Inclusive Rental Protections
From "The Landlord and Tenant Act 2025"
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To the Government of Bermuda and the drafters of The Landlord and Tenant Act 2025,
I appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Landlord and Tenant Act 2025. I would like to raise a serious concern about the lack of provisions addressing tenants who own companion animals (pets). Currently, Bermuda’s rental market provides landlords with broad discretion to prohibit pets entirely. As a result, tenants with pets face significant discrimination, often being excluded from the vast majority of available rental properties.
From my own experience, it has been extremely difficult to find a place to rent that allows a pet. This challenge is not unique to me — it reflects a widespread issue that impacts many responsible pet owners across Bermuda. The absence of legal protections for tenants with pets has broader social and economic consequences that deserve consideration in the upcoming legislation.
Key Issues and Implications:
1- Housing Access Inequality:
The current lack of regulation enables a de facto ban on pet ownership for renters, creating unequal access to housing for a substantial portion of the population. Many Bermudians consider pets part of their family, and excluding them effectively excludes the people who care for them.
2- Animal Welfare Concerns:
Restrictive rental policies contribute to higher rates of pet abandonment and a growing population of stray and neglected animals. Animal charities and shelters in Bermuda are already under significant strain, and the absence of pet-friendly housing options exacerbates this crisis.
3- Public Health and Wellbeing:
Studies worldwide show that pet ownership contributes positively to mental and physical wellbeing, reducing loneliness, anxiety, and stress. Restrictive housing policies therefore have a knock-on effect on community health and social cohesion.
4- Balanced Rights and Responsibilities:
A fair and modern rental framework can protect both landlords and tenants. Reasonable regulations can ensure that tenants remain responsible for damages or disturbances caused by pets, while still preventing blanket bans. Examples from the UK, Canada, and parts of Australia demonstrate that a balanced approach — such as requiring “reasonable grounds” for refusing pets, or allowing pet bonds or insurance — can work effectively.
Proposed Recommendations:
- Introduce a clause in the Act that prohibits blanket “no pets” policies, instead requiring landlords to show reasonable justification for refusal (e.g., unsuitable property conditions, safety issues, or allergy concerns in shared spaces).
- Allow landlords to request a refundable pet deposit or additional insurance to cover potential damages, ensuring fairness to both parties.
- Encourage the development of pet-inclusive housing guidelines, in partnership with animal welfare organisations and housing agencies.
- Consider the inclusion of model tenancy clauses that promote responsible pet ownership, including rules for noise, cleanliness, and supervision.
Conclusion:
Modern housing policy should reflect the realities of Bermuda’s community and promote humane, inclusive living arrangements. By including protections for tenants with pets, the Landlord and Tenant Act 2025 can strike a fair balance between landlord rights and the social need for compassionate, sustainable housing policy.
Thank you for considering these comments and for your commitment to improving Bermuda’s rental landscape.
Sincerely,
Nathan Dennis
St George’s, Bermuda
