If AB 2216 survives a number of legal hurdles, it would provide California pet owners with the protection of being kept in kennels with their landlords until it passes.
The state bill, introduced earlier this month by San Francisco City Councilman Matt Haney, would cover 12 million of the state's 17 million people who rent a home and have a furry friend, his office said this week. This was stated in a news release. The bill would eliminate the blanket ban on pets in rental units, require landlords to provide “reasonable reasons not to permit pets in rental units,” and require landlords to provide “reasonable reasons not to allow pets in rental units” until a rental application is approved. This will limit your ability to ask questions about your pet.
Haney said AB 2216 is part of the solution to California's housing crisis.
“We have to keep building housing faster. But when 12 million people across the state are denied access to that housing because they have pets, we have to continue to build housing faster. I can't do that,” Haney said. “The vast majority of renters in our state – pet owners – are being denied access to the vast majority of rental units. It makes no sense at all and is dramatically exacerbating the housing crisis.”
The news release claims that more than 829,000 people have pets in their homes without their landlord's knowledge. They are left without adequate compensation for damages that could have been mitigated had they been aware of the situation.” limit. “
Another hidden cost, according to Haney: One of the main reasons pets are surrendered to animal shelters in the state is the lack of pet-friendly housing.
“Housing is a fundamental right and should not be restricted because tenants are forced to choose between a pet and a roof over their heads,” said Jenny Berg, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States. The statement is quoted in the news release.
AB 2216 was introduced on February 7th and may be considered in committee on March 9th.
