Pet owners across Bristol could soon find it easier to find a landlord that accepts animals in their property - thanks to a new partnership.
Finding a rental property which allows fur babies is often a struggle with many landlords not keen to allow pets as part of any letting agreement.
As a result some house hunters are forced to re-home their much loved member of the family in the search to put a roof over their head.
Now Bristol Animal Rescue Centre (ARC) has teamed up with city letting agent The Letting Game in a bid to encourage more landlords to accept pets.
The new initiative - called The Petting Game - will encourage landlords across the city to accept animals as part of any tenancy agreement.
Leaflets have been produced highlighting the benefits to potential landlords of opening up their properties to allow well behaved, house trained pets.
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It is hoped that by encouraging more landlords to become pet friendly, more properties will become available to those wanting to rent in the city.
And by opening up properties to pets, it will provide landlord with a greater pool of potential tenants to choose from.
The scheme is the first of its kind in the city.
The Letting Game associate director Ben Giles said: "For years we’ve seen landlords turn away very strong potential tenants on the basis that they have pets.
" We believe through this union, we will not only be able to support the city’s oldest animal charity, but will also be able to support pet owners and tap in to potentially hundreds of very strong tenants who are usually turned away without being given a chance."
Bristol A.R.C. will be on hand with a guide for managing potential problem behaviours should they occur, including advice on toileting indoors and barking.
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All landlords and tenants who sign up to the scheme will be offered this handy and easy to digest guide.
Bristol ARC spokeswoman Bev Mackenzie said: "We hear regularly from members of the public who are desperate to find somewhere to live with their pet, but are struggling.
"They come to us for advice on where to turn next.
"We do get people that have had to hand over their animals because they cannot find a place to live where the family can all be together.
“We are very proud to have setup this first scheme of its kind in Bristol.
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"Owning a pet does not make you an unattractive tenant and we hope that this is something we will be able to prove through The Petting Game.
"We hope that by collaborating with The Letting Game, and launching The Petting Game, many more landlords will come around to the idea of accepting pets in their properties."
