A fed up tenant says she feels 'penalised' for owning cats as she outlined her 'nightmare' experience of flat hunting in Edinburgh.
Kitty Cameron has endured a fruitless two-month search for somewhere to live with her two much-loved cats, Squid and Cous-Cous. An unfortunate change in circumstances means that the 25-year-old needs to move out of her current flat in Leith.
She is "desperate" to find somewhere to live - but the capital is currently going through a brutal housing crisis and renters are feeling the pressure with high demand and low supply. As reported by Edinburgh Live, this pressure can intensify when home hunters have pets as the choice of accommodation is limited.
Kitty said: "I've been trying to find somewhere else to live for the last two months and it's nearly impossible. I even look for room shares rather than a flat, but every person comes back and says their landlord doesn't allow pets.
"The vast majority of flats I have seen online do state 'no pets', if I state it, it limits me so much. For the tiny amount that do allow pets, the market is just so brutal right now that I can't even get a viewing. They go so quickly. I feel that I have been penalised for owning a pet.
"The rental market is an absolute nightmare out there at the moment. It's disgusting. A lot of places I've looked at are only looking for students or are getting turned into short-term lets. The prices are ridiculous too, I'm not on a huge wage so I don't make enough to live alone. I'm looking at moving in with complete strangers just to get out the flat.
The pawnbroker has grown up with cats and says that giving up her pets is never an option. She added: "It has crossed my mind, and it has been suggested by other people but I just don't think I can do that. I am medicated for depression and they help so much and keep the 'big sad' away. They're great to come home to, they keep me occupied and give me something to do."
Kitty is now calling on the Scottish Government to push forward plans to reform the rules for renters to make it easier for people with pets to rent. Currently, tenants can keep pets as long as allowed in the tenancy agreement - but often it needs to be agreed with the landlord.
Citizens Advice Scotland adds: "If you are a private tenant you should normally seek the landlord’s permission because, even if you have a legal right to keep pets, the landlord may be able to find some other reason for evicting you if they do not approve. Keeping unauthorised pets could also lead the landlord to more closely scrutinise any damage at the end of the tenancy (for example, to carpets or furniture) to then withhold some of your tenancy deposit."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government recognises that pets are an important part of the family for many people and believe private tenants should be able to benefit from the experience of pet ownership, as is the case for most other households. Owning a pet comes with many benefits for health and wellbeing, which is why we have consulted on strengthening tenants’ rights to give greater flexibility to keep pets as part of our draft New Deal for Tenants.
“We have a shared policy commitment to introduce new rights based on that consultation and we are continuing to develop proposals to deliver on that commitment.”
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