Cities across the country are experiencing an imbalanced power dynamic between renters and landlords, and pet owners are paying an extraordinary price. Locally, a strong coalition, led by Bellingham Councilmember Jace Cotton, is seeking to restore some balance. Through their leadership, an ordinance will be considered by the Bellingham City Council this month that could help increase housing stability for the city’s renters and ensure that renters with pets aren’t forced to make a difficult choice of surrendering a beloved pet.
More than 97 percent of pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family, yet 90 percent of landlords either do not allow pets or place significant restrictions on pets in housing, such as breed and weight restrictions and exorbitant pet rent, fees or deposits. There’s little data to justify these additional and often substantial costs, that, far too often, force pet owners to choose between keeping their family together or keeping a roof over their head.
The proposed ordinance would alleviate some of the most significant barriers that renters face when finding and maintaining housing by reining in pet deposits, pet rent and other ongoing pet-related fees, and allow tenants to prorate upfront pet deposits over a three-month period. Removing these costly barriers to housing is essential to preserving the human animal bond and keeping families together and increasing housing stability altogether.
While some landlords mistakenly believe that all pets create significant damage, recent studies have found that there is little, if any, difference in damage between tenants who have pets and those that don’t. Only nine percent of pets are reported to cause any damage whatsoever, and when there is unrepaired damage, the average cost is only $210 — significantly lower than any pet deposit or pet rent that people are being forced to pay. The additional costs being racked up just for owning a pet is not analyzed or justified, but it’s accepted due to the power imbalance between landlords and tenants. Given the tumultuous housing market the past few years for both renters and landlords, the phenomenon of these added costs are only increasing.
Anyone who is willing and able to care for a pet should be able to benefit from the companionship, support and unconditional love pets provide. By alleviating these barriers, we can not only help keep pets in loving homes and out of overcrowded shelters, but make pet ownership more accessible for all.
This ordinance, included on page 225 of Monday’s agenda, is part of a broader rental reform proposal by the city to address the ongoing housing imbalance that much of the state is feeling. The ASPCA is grateful to the Bellingham City Council for seeking to address these issues for renters and pet owners, and with a vote expected to happen at the end of the month, we urge the City Council to pass this ordinance to protect Bellingham residents and their pets.
If passed, this ordinance will be a big win for Bellingham pet owners, and a step in the right direction for the state of Washington.
Susan Riggs is senior director of housing policy, ASPCA. Laura Clark is executive director of Whatcom Humane Society.
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