The MSPCA has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of animals surrendered to our shelters because of rising housing pressures on pet families. As Massachusetts continues to struggle with one of the most competitive and expensive real estate markets in the country, too many families are having to make heart-wrenching decisions between having a place to live and keeping their pets.
We are tackling this issue head on and have launched a new effort to create more pet-inclusive housing in the Commonwealth.
What is Pet-Inclusive Housing?
Housing providers will often advertise as “pet-friendly” but our research shows that this label is misleading. Restrictions on breed and weight combined with unreasonable fees create a housing market where less than 10% of available rental units are truly inclusive for dogs of all sizes and types.
“Pet-Inclusive” refers to housing that accepts pets regardless of weight and breed, acknowledging that such factors are not a predictor of personality. Diet, environment, health, training, breeding, genetics, management, and socialization all influence behavior.
How Can We Solve the Problem?
Action for Pet Inclusive Housing is aimed to increase housing choice through policy change and partnerships with Housing Providers across Massachusetts. Housing choice and access means working across all forms of housing, from public, senior and affordable to the open market. No one should be forced to surrender their pet for lack of housing options!
Support our Policy Agenda!
One of our initiatives as part of this campaign includes legislative change: 1559/S. 1022 – An Act to maintain stable housing for families with pets, sponsored by Senator Pavel Payano and Representatives Dave Rogers and Sam Montaño. The bills would do the following:
- During a “state of emergency” and for one year after the “state of emergency” has ended, a landlord can’t evict a tenant solely on the basis of the presence of an unauthorized pet.
- Similarly, during a “state of emergency” a hotel cannot “unreasonably” deny a pet.
- HOAs cannot prohibit the keeping of certain types of dogs based on breed, size, weight or appearance.
- Requires Public Housing Authorities to institute a pet ownership program in state-aided housing and cannot discriminate on the basis of breed, weight, size, or appearance.
- For dogs: pet rent (per pet) cannot exceed 1% of the first full month’s rent.
- For all other household pets: Pet rent cannot cumulatively exceed 1% of a full month’s rent (i.e. not “per pet”).
- Prohibits insurance companies from discriminating on the basis of breed.
Ask your state legislators to support bills that would create more pet-inclusive housing for all families
Read more about these bills.
Action for Pet Inclusive Housing Advances the Goals of the Massachusetts’ Statewide Housing Plan “A Home for Everyone”.
| Strategic Priority |
S.1022
H.1559 |
H.1476 |
How it Supports the Plan |
| Make it easier for residents to find and apply for affordable rental housing |
✔️ |
✔️ |
This legislation will reduce risk of housing instability by removing barriers for families with pets, reduce cost burden and increase housing market options. |
| Help tenants avoid unreasonable rent hikes and fees |
✔️ |
✔️ |
This policy change will cap pet rent fees at a reasonable amount and not place undue burden on tenants while respecting the right of landlords to establish reasonable security. |
| Advance Justice and Fair Housing |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Non-white and Latino Households are more likely to rent rather than own their homes. Severe lack of market-choice for pet-inclusive rental housing means these households are unable to adopt available pets from shelter or worse, are at risk of losing housing stability or having to give up their pet. |
| Continue efforts to prevent evictions |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Households with pets are vulnerable to eviction when property ownership or management changes, even when they have maintained good tenant standards. No household should have to give up a member of their family to maintain their housing. |
| Create a competitive environment for the Massachusetts workforce. |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Many top employers in the Greater Boston area report challenges in recruiting and retaining talent due to the hyper competitive housing market. Removing pet related housing barriers improves competition for top-workforce by improving market conditions and housing options. |
