Pet Policy
Owning a pet is very important to many residents who live in our homes. We are told that pets help to reduce stress, help to prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and help to fight depression but above all, pets bring joy.
Our approach
Helgi is positive about residents keeping pets – not just cats and dogs but rabbits, budgies, fish and even snakes. Whatever your pet, Helgi will consider whether your pet can be housed safely, responsibly and without inconvenience to your neighbours.
Applying for consent to keep a pet
All pets need approval, even pets such as goldfish or insects. If you are moving into a Helgi home and would like your existing pet to relocate with you or if you are an existing tenant and are looking to bring in a pet into your home, please inform us in advance and we will request for you to complete the Pet Application form. There are terms and conditions that will apply to all approved pets.
You may be asked to provide additional information with your application, for example, if your dog is on the Index of Exempted Dogs, which allows the owner to keep a banned-type dog (Dangerous Dogs Act) (XL Bully Act), you will need to show the dog’s Certificate of Exemption; or if your pet requires a licence you will need to show proof that this is in place. In all cases, a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Criteria that we will apply to pet application
Our policy is not rigid regarding the type of pets that you may keep within your home however, there we request that is a maximum of 2 pets per property. Every application will be individually assessed and reviewed in line with what can be sensibly managed and will work at the location of your home.
• No rodents, this includes but is not exclusive to rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs.
• Pets are house trained.
• Residents may be required to provide a reference for their pets from a previous landlord, letting agent or veterinary surgeon.
• Residents are responsible for the health and welfare of their pets. In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, all tenants have a duty of care to provide their pets with a suitable place to live, a suitable diet, proper exercise and adequate health care.
• If the landlord believes that a pet kept in their property has been neglected or abandoned, they will report the case to an appropriate animal welfare organisation.
• Residents must not leave their pets in the property when they are away unless arrangements have been made for their care. Pets should be boarded elsewhere but close supervision by a neighbour may be acceptable for some animals.
• Dogs should not be left alone in the property for more than 4 hours at a time.
• Residents must ensure that their dogs will not cause damage to the property if they are left unsupervised.
• All pets must be vaccinated and regularly treated for fleas and worms (if appropriate). Residents may be required to provide evidence of this from their veterinary surgeon.
• Residents must ensure that their pets do not cause a nuisance to neighbours or visitors. This includes excessive noise and damage to other people’s property. Dogs must be kept under control and on a lead in all public places, communal areas and walkways.
• Pets must not be allowed to foul inside the property, except for caged pets and pets trained to use a litter tray. Any pet faeces must be removed immediately from the garden or outside areas and disposed of safely and hygienically.
• Residents are responsible for keeping all areas of the property clean and free from parasites, such as fleas.
• All dogs and cats must have a microchip.
• Dogs must by law wear a collar with their owner’s name and address on it when in a public place. Cats should also wear a ‘snap apart’ collar to enable them to be identified.
• Dogs listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and any animal listed in the schedule of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 may not be kept in this property.
• Residents may not breed or offer for sale any animal in our property.
• Tenants who wish to obtain an additional pet after moving into the property must request and complete a new pet application form.
• With the exception of house cats who never leave the property, cats must have access to the outside– this may be by the owner carrying their cat to the main door and collecting them upon their return or through a window or patio door. They must be provided with a litter tray in the customer’s home (at least one per cat) which is emptied regularly. Used litter should be securely bagged before being placed in the appropriate bin.
• The pet does not create any exceptional noise issues – beyond normal day-to-day levels.
• In the case of exotic species, relevant licences must be held and Helgi must be satisfied with the security of the animal.
• All cats and dogs are to be microchipped and details updated on the Government approved database
Refusing or withdrawing consent
Very occasionally we may refuse permission to keep a pet, or we may have to withdraw consent to keep a pet. This will be in exceptional circumstances and we will always discuss this with you.
Right of appeal
In the event that a customer or applicant has been refused permission to keep a pet and they wish to appeal against this decision they should write to the portfolio manager of Helgi with the details of the case.