We’ve worked closely with Dogs Trust to review how we support tenants who own pets. As part of this work, we’ve introduced a new pet policy that gives tenants greater freedom to own pets responsibly - including automatic permission to keep at least one pet in their home. We’ve also provided Pet Information Packs to help tenants understand their pets’ welfare needs and where to access support if needed.
Our staff have taken part in specialist training delivered by Dogs Trust, helping them feel more confident and better equipped when interacting with dogs during home visits.
This work has now been formally recognised through Dogs Trust’s pet friendly housing accreditation - a milestone that reflects our commitment to creating inclusive, supportive communities for all tenants.
We know how important pets are to many of our residents. By working with Dogs Trust, we’ve been able to strengthen our approach in a way that supports pet owners while also considering the needs of neighbours and the wider community.
Dogs Trust hopes this work will serve as a blueprint for other housing providers across the UK. The pilot of this project was possible thanks to funding raised by players of Postcode Lottery, and aimed to improve access to pet friendly housing for those who need it most.