Restrictive rental laws mean scarcity of dog-friendly homes

Dogs Trust says too many renters in Ireland are being forced to make an impossible choice between losing their dog or losing their home because of a lack of dog friendly rentals.

To tackle the issue, they’ve launched a petition to urge the government to change the law and stop allowing blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements.

The number of people contacting Dogs Trust needing to give up their dog because their move to a new home won’t allow their four-legged family member has increased by 112% in the last five years.

Today Dogs Trust reveals:

One of the top reasons people contact Dogs Trust about giving up their dog is because they can’t find a home that allows their canine companion.

In 2024 the charity had more than one call or email a day (431) on average from people needing to give up their dog because their move did not allow dogs.

This has increased from 203 in 2019 – a shocking 112% increase in just 5 years – highlighting a disturbing trend affecting dogs and their owners.

Only 7% (132 out of 1871) of rental properties in the whole of Ireland allowed pets on one of the biggest rental search platforms, Daft.ie.*

Yet around one-third of the population own a dog – 34% according to a 2024 study by Ipsos B&A.**

81% of over 24,000 people surveyed by Dogs Trust – through Ireland’s Dog Census – believe that dog owners should have the right to have a pet in rental accommodation***.

Dogs Trust believes Ireland’s current rental laws do not provide enough protection for tenants who are dog owners. They want the law to change to introduce fairer rules for renters with pets, while making sure landlords and their properties are also protected.

According to CSO figures, there are now more people renting in Ireland than ever before.

With landlords allowed to enforce ‘no dog’ policies, many dog owning renters are in crisis and, in some cases, are forced into the impossible decision to give up their dog or else face being homeless.

The charity has launched an emotive video to raise awareness of the issue: https://youtu.be/P6uTJ4b-lj8

One dog owner who faced this struggle is Celia Madrid Delgado (pictured above) and her dog Kai.

Celia works as a canine carer at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Dublin and had to apply to 300 properties before she found a rental home that would allow Kai.

Celia Madrid Delgado, Canine Carer, Dogs Trust said: “My husband and I applied for more than 300 rentals over six months and all of them refused us.

“If we didn’t have Kai, we’d have been sorted with somewhere to live in a couple of weeks.

“Giving up Kai was never going to be an option for me. I was lucky and eventually found a home where we’re all happy.

“But so many other loving owners come to our rehoming centre looking to surrender their dog because they have no other choice.

“It’s an awful situation to deal with. Owners in floods of tears. Their dogs distressed because they don’t know why they’re being left behind.

“All we can do is assure every owner that we will give their dog the love they deserve until we can find them a new home.

Sarah Lynch, Policy, Compliance and Research Manager, Dogs Trust said: “No one should have to choose between losing their dog or losing their home.

“But too many people are having to make this heartbreaking choice because they can’t find a rental home that allows pets.

“Together, we can change this. Please sign our petition urging the government to prevent ‘blanket bans’ on dogs in tenancy agreements. Help us make sure it’s good boy, not goodbye.”

Dogs Trust has produced advice to landlords who are thinking about allowing dogs in their property, with tips such as getting a doggy reference to provide reassurance, as well as ideas for renters to help them in the search process.

Visit dogstrust.ie/petition for further information and to sign the petition.