Courtney Collins was shocked after moving to Greater Victoria from Ontario and discovering that most B.C. rentals say 害羞草研究所渘o pets害羞草研究所� in their listings.

害羞草研究所淚n Ontario, you don害羞草研究所檛 see that on ads,害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 understand.害羞草研究所�

After moving to her mother害羞草研究所檚 home in North Saanich in 2021 with her three cats, Kitten, Leo, and Morgy, she decided the flaw was within the residential system rather than her owning 害羞草研究所渢oo many pets.害羞草研究所�

According to the B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch, Canadian law does not recognize having a pet as a human right. In Ontario, pet clauses are specifically banned. However, landlords in B.C. are within their rights under the Residential Tenancy Act to prohibit pets in their rental units. This excludes renters with a disability who rely on an animal in connection with their disability.

Andrew Sakamoto of the Regional Tenancy Branch media centre echoed the sentiment.

害羞草研究所淯nder the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords are totally within their rights to restrict pets,害羞草研究所� said Sakamoto.

This domino effect can impact not only the pet owners but also the shelters. Collins, who works with local rescues, says it has increased the number of stray cats and dogs she tends to.

害羞草研究所淭here a lot of people who come into the SPCA, not just because of COVID when everyone got a pet but because people simply can害羞草研究所檛 find homes that will let them have pets,害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淐ats, dogs and fish even.害羞草研究所�

She says it害羞草研究所檚 put a stereotype on pet owners, and while she agrees with some of the reasons, she added that people in B.C. seem more concerned with materialism than companionship. Collins says she even often sees unhoused people with pets, mostly dogs.

Working in renovation construction herself, she says that in her previous rental suites, she has paid for any necessary renovations out of pocket.

害羞草研究所淚t could be the most disgusting building, still no pets allowed,害羞草研究所� said Collins.

Frustrated with the lack of adequate housing, she sought feedback from local landlords online and was even more disappointed with the responses she received.

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Victoria resident and landlord Michelle Leblanc says she wouldn害羞草研究所檛 rent out a suite to pet owners or those with young children because of the potential cost of repairs and utilities.

害羞草研究所淭he risk to our home isn害羞草研究所檛 worth it. We haven害羞草研究所檛 even touched on all the other risks like increased chance of fire or flood, or any other possible damage that could occur with the best of tenants,害羞草研究所� said Leblanc. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not worth it to wipe out over a year害羞草研究所檚 profit for a risk I don害羞草研究所檛 have to take.害羞草研究所�

Collins says a middle ground can be reached between tenants and landlords.

害羞草研究所淢aybe people can meet in the middle somewhere and pay higher deposits. I害羞草研究所檝e been seeing a lot of abandoned animals, and it害羞草研究所檚 quite sad,害羞草研究所� said Collins.

On Oct. 10, the provincial government announced that more new homes for people would be approved faster by removing paper-only application barriers that allow people to apply for secondary suites online. Despite more housing soon to be available, since it is up to the landlord害羞草研究所檚 discretion to allow pets, many have still been left without a place to call home.

Collins eventually found a reasonable suite in Saanich, but said the journey to get there was disconcerting.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just ridiculous,害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淚 find that B.C. has a huge sense of entitlement. It害羞草研究所檚 already hard enough to rent and it害羞草研究所檚 expensive, and then if you have pets, you害羞草研究所檙e pretty much screwed.害羞草研究所�

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