Landlords and tenants in dogfight

Newtown tenants want to be able to replace their deceased pets

Tenants living in flats owned by Mid Wales Housing Association claim their landlords are abusing human rights by not allowing them to replace their dead pets.

The association said the move was instigated by a tenants' panel which represents the views of people living in more than 440 flats in Powys and Ceredigion.

But tenants at Pine Court, Newtown, which has 38 flats and is the association's biggest complex, claim association tenants were not properly consulted about the matter.

And a Powys councillor believes that it is time for the local authority to appoint an advocate to represent tenants who live in council-run and housing association properties.

if you had a dog or cat when you were offered accommodation, you may keep the pet, but in the event of it dying you are asked not to replace it Mid Wales Housing Association

Mid Wales Housing Association sent out a newsletter to more than 300 tenants last month.

It said: " It was felt that a flat is not suitable place for a dog or cat to be kept.

No pets

"If you did not have a dog or cat when you moved into your flat, we are unable to give you permission to keep such a pet.

"However, if you had a dog or cat when you were offered accommodation, you may keep the pet, but in the event of it dying you are asked not to replace it."

The newsletter also asked tenants to air their views on the matter before 23 July.

Rosemary Salter MWHAs chief executive said the issue had arisen during a tenants panel meeting.

MWHA sent a newsletter to more than 300 tenants

"The panel felt strongly that flats weren't suitable places to keep dogs and cats and wanted to extend our 10-year-old policy of not having pets in houses to those with communal areas.

"We then consulted with our tenants in the newsletter and we will make a decision on the matter later this month."

But 30 Pine Court tenants have sent MWHA a petition objecting to the proposed changes.

A spokeswoman representing those who signed the petition said the new policy would mean that specialist dogs such as guide dogs and hearing dogs could not be kept in flats.

She added: "A lot of tenants decided to move to their properties on the understanding they could keep pets.

"Above all, there is no communal entrance to Pine Court because everyone has their own entrance to their flats.

"I contacted the association about this matter and I was told that if we don't reply then it is being taken that we agree to this policy.

Cllr Gareth Morgan: The elderly in the county should have an advocate

"I've been told that the action they are taking is affecting our human rights."

The spokeswoman is also a member of the tenants panel but did not attend the meeting when it was decided to raise the issue of not replacing pets.

"If I had been able to attend the meeting I could have argued the case for pet owners," she said.

"It is such an important issue I believe all tenant panel members should have been consulted about this."

Powys council Board member, Gareth Morgan, believes it is now time for the local authority to appoint an advocate to represent the elderly.

"There is a need for someone to be able to speak on behalf of elderly and infirm people," he said.

"It is easy for organizations to make rules with no one being able to voice an objection to them."