Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I thank the Senator for bringing before the Seanad this important matter regarding pet policy in approved housing body accommodation, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne.

Approved housing bodies are independent, not-for-profit organisations providing affordable rented housing for people who cannot provide housing from their own means, and for particular groups such as older people or homeless people. AHBs also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members or tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. We are not aware of any sector-wide policy that precludes AHB tenants from keeping pets and a number of AHBs have published pet policy documents, which provide guidance for tenants seeking to keep pets. The residential tenancies Acts from 2004 to 2022 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the residential rental sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, with a limited number of exceptions. Dwellings covered by the Acts include the private rental sector, the cost-rental sector, the approved housing body sector and student accommodation, including tenancies and licences in student-specific accommodation. The Acts make no reference to animals and it would be inappropriate for them to prescribe matters relating to the keeping of pets. As such, there is nothing in legislation that prevents AHB tenants from keeping pets. That is a very important point for the Senator.

Although the value to individual tenants of keeping pets is recognised, it is also important to acknowledge the challenges that may exist for both other tenants and individual landlords or property owners. Not all residents, particularly in multi-unit developments, would be comfortable with the presence of pets, and their needs should also be considered. However, as independent property owners, it is a matter for the sector and the individual AHBs themselves to formulate their own house rules on this policy. Tenants of AHBs are encouraged to engage with the relevant AHBs and the AHB representative association, the Irish Council for Social Housing, regarding pet policies. It would not be appropriate for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out tenancy policies of individual AHBs and their property rules.