Council tenants may get pet limit

Council tenants in Nottingham could soon be restricted on the amount of pets they can keep in their homes.

Some residents have criticised the plans which would limit tenants to one cat or dog per household.

Smaller caged animals and fish would not be affected by the plans suggested in a draft tenancy agreement.

Nottingham City Homes, which manages the city's council houses, said the plans were open for public consultation and had been suggested by its tenants.

It's discriminating against council tenants and it cannot be allowed Bilborough dog trainer Janet Wesley

Tenant Michelle Morgan, who lives in Bilborough, said: "I think it's absolutely terrible and it's going to be devastating for small local businesses that stock anything to do with pets.

"Especially in Bilborough, there's a lot of council tenants and the amount of pet food that is bought is seriously going to be reduced, so that will impact on local businesses."

Bilborough dog trainer Janet Wesley, said: "It certainly helps a dog to have a companion, it's the same with cats.

"It's discriminating against council tenants and it cannot be allowed."

'Tenants' wishes'

Gill Moy from Nottingham City Homes said the idea has come from existing tenants who have been annoyed by nuisance pets.

She said: "It's about taking a balanced view about all of our tenants.

"There's many tenants who don't want us to put the restrictions on the number of dogs, equally there are a number who actually want to see the restrictions in place.

"We undertook a number of consultation exercises and the proposals for the restricted number actually came from those policy forums, so we are responding to the wishes of our tenants."

Ms Moy said residents would be able to write to her organisation requesting to keep more than one cat or dog and each case would be considered separately.