Courtney Collins was shocked after moving to Greater Victoria from Ontario and discovering that most B.C. rentals say 91裸聊视频渘o pets91裸聊视频� in their listings.
91裸聊视频淚n Ontario, you don91裸聊视频檛 see that on ads,91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 understand.91裸聊视频�
After moving to her mother91裸聊视频檚 home in North Saanich in 2021 with her three cats, Kitten, Leo, and Morgy, she decided the flaw was within the residential system rather than her owning 91裸聊视频渢oo many pets.91裸聊视频�
According to the B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch, Canadian law does not recognize having a pet as a human right. In Ontario, pet clauses are specifically banned. However, landlords in B.C. are within their rights under the Residential Tenancy Act to prohibit pets in their rental units. This excludes renters with a disability who rely on an animal in connection with their disability.
Andrew Sakamoto of the Regional Tenancy Branch media centre echoed the sentiment.
91裸聊视频淯nder the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords are totally within their rights to restrict pets,91裸聊视频� said Sakamoto.
This domino effect can impact not only the pet owners but also the shelters. Collins, who works with local rescues, says it has increased the number of stray cats and dogs she tends to.
91裸聊视频淭here a lot of people who come into the SPCA, not just because of COVID when everyone got a pet but because people simply can91裸聊视频檛 find homes that will let them have pets,91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淐ats, dogs and fish even.91裸聊视频�
She says it91裸聊视频檚 put a stereotype on pet owners, and while she agrees with some of the reasons, she added that people in B.C. seem more concerned with materialism than companionship. Collins says she even often sees unhoused people with pets, mostly dogs.
Working in renovation construction herself, she says that in her previous rental suites, she has paid for any necessary renovations out of pocket.
91裸聊视频淚t could be the most disgusting building, still no pets allowed,91裸聊视频� said Collins.
Frustrated with the lack of adequate housing, she sought feedback from local landlords online and was even more disappointed with the responses she received.
READ MORE:
Victoria resident and landlord Michelle Leblanc says she wouldn91裸聊视频檛 rent out a suite to pet owners or those with young children because of the potential cost of repairs and utilities.
91裸聊视频淭he risk to our home isn91裸聊视频檛 worth it. We haven91裸聊视频檛 even touched on all the other risks like increased chance of fire or flood, or any other possible damage that could occur with the best of tenants,91裸聊视频� said Leblanc. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not worth it to wipe out over a year91裸聊视频檚 profit for a risk I don91裸聊视频檛 have to take.91裸聊视频�
Collins says a middle ground can be reached between tenants and landlords.
91裸聊视频淢aybe people can meet in the middle somewhere and pay higher deposits. I91裸聊视频檝e been seeing a lot of abandoned animals, and it91裸聊视频檚 quite sad,91裸聊视频� said Collins.
On Oct. 10, the provincial government announced that more new homes for people would be approved faster by removing paper-only application barriers that allow people to apply for secondary suites online. Despite more housing soon to be available, since it is up to the landlord91裸聊视频檚 discretion to allow pets, many have still been left without a place to call home.
Collins eventually found a reasonable suite in Saanich, but said the journey to get there was disconcerting.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just ridiculous,91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淚 find that B.C. has a huge sense of entitlement. It91裸聊视频檚 already hard enough to rent and it91裸聊视频檚 expensive, and then if you have pets, you91裸聊视频檙e pretty much screwed.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE:
