Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department supports animal welfare charities with increased handovers of pets caused by the level of available pet-friendly housing.

Further to the answer given in response to Question UIN 174324 on 3 April 2023, the Government will legislate to give tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) a legal 'right to request a pet' that the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. Officials have discussed these proposals with animal welfare organisations.

The department does not collect data on the average rental costs for properties accepting or refusing pets in the PRS.

The Government understands the pressures that people are facing with the cost of living and has taken decisive action to support households. We are providing support for worth over £26 billion in 2023/24, in addition to the benefits uprating, which is worth £11 billion to working age households and disabled people. Cost of Living payments will be available in 2023/24 including £900 for households on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households, and £150 for individuals on disability benefits.