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Pets: Breeding

Answer

While DEFRA has not issued any guidance to tenants on this matter, guidance issued to social landlords in November 2010 by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills stresses the value of social tenants being able to run businesses from home. While the Government have urged social landlords to agree to reasonable requests from their tenants, there are obviously some instances, for example where the running of the business would have an adverse impact on the neighbourhood, where this would not be practicable.In cases where a tenancy agreement does not require the tenant to seek the landlord's permission before starting up a business, a landlord can rely on other clauses in the agreement, eg those dealing with noise and nuisance or damage to the premises, to deal with problem cases.Guidance published for social landlords by DCLG in April 2010 on the tools and powers available to them to tackle antisocial behaviour emphasises the importance of including clauses in tenancy agreements to ensure the keeping of pets is properly controlled and enforcement action against nuisance animals and dangerous dogs is facilitated, as well as highlighting good practice.Any tenant seeking to start a business from their home should ensure their tenancy agreement allows this and obtain permission from their landlord if required.Businesses that sell pets or breed dogs are also likely to require licensing and inspection by the local authority.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

94274; 540 c496-7W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Animal breeding Pets

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk