Hackney estate tenants in pets row

Under the new proposals, only one dog per property will be allowed. Photograph: Dionisio Plaza

Tenants in properties owned by Hackney Council have expressed concern over proposed changes to their tenancy agreements that could lead to a limit being placed on the number of pets they are allowed to own.

The alterations to the agreement, which are the subject of an ongoing consultation by the borough’s housing management organisation Hackney Homes, have been described as “odd” and unenforceable, and some tenants have claimed that they could have ramifications for personal safety.

Hackney Homes says the proposed measure will assist in keeping the number of animals on Hackney’s estates at a reasonable level.

But Victor Standll, who has lived on the Stonebridge Estate in Haggerston for 15 years, said: “They are going to claim that you are breaking your tenancy agreement, which is a bit odd because secure tenants can only be evicted on very clear grounds.

“The other thing they are saying is that you must obtain written permission before keeping an animal or pet or to replace an animal or pet that has died or been re-homed. They say they will not give permission to keep more than one animal in a flat without a garden. My friend now has got three dogs and they are perfectly happy, but whether she is going to have a problem now I don’t know. Also I can’t see that there is any sensible way of enforcing it.”

Mr Standll said he also had concerns about another proposed change which could disallow tenants from renting or owning another residential property. He said: “That’s a very complicated point of law.”

Anna Risdeglia, who lives on the Stonebridge Estate and owns three dogs, said the pets helped deter criminals.

She said: “My dogs are my protection. in the summer when the patio door is open if it wasn’t for my dogs barking I could be vulnerable to crime.”

A spokeswoman for Hackney Homes said: “These are [just] proposals. We are still taking residents’ feedback and no decision will be made until the consultation closes.”