I’m forced to live in my car because of ridiculous landlord ‘rule’ – I’m completely stuck
A VAN driver claims he has been left living in his car for two years due to landlords turning him away – for refusing to abandon his pets.
Paul Growns, from Maidstone, Kent, became homeless in January 2022 and is still is still living in his vehicle – with his two dogs – two years later.
Father-of-two Paul, who is 45 and works full-time as a van driver, says that the cost of child maintenance, car insurance and storage has left him with little money to survive.
He told KentOnline that the council has not offered him and temporary accommodation because he is not in priority need.
Paul says he was advised that his only option is to look for private acommodation.
But it is notoriously difficult to find pet-friendly landlords, and Paul says he is not prepared to rehome his two dogs, Max the Dachshund and Toby the Jack Russell, or to have them put down.
He said: “Being an animal lover, you can’t separate yourself from your animals because they’re family and they’re like your children while your homeless, because if you didn’t have them, you’ve got no-one.
“Places don’t accept pets, so you have a choice you either stay homeless or re-home your pets.”
Paul said seven-year-old Max, who has been with him throughout his two-year homeless period, currently has cancer.
“He’s my pride and joy at the moment,” he said.
“These dogs are the reason I’m still here at the moment, because if I didn’t have these, I don’t know how long I’d be here.”
Paul had been living with his wife and two children in Kent before his relationship broke down.
In January 2022 he says he told the council he was homeless but had to wait eight months before being moved into a property, he claims.
The landlord apparently did not allow dogs so Paul lost the property just a month later, and has not been able to find another permanent residence, Paul says.
Paul is now urging private providers to accept pets, and Maidstone council to change their ‘non-priority’ decision.
“Most people go home every night to their family and dogs, and a nice warm bed – I wouldn’t know what that feels like anymore,” he said.
Pet owners' rights when renting
Just seven per cent of private landlords advertise pet friendly properties, according to Gov.uk.
This means many people struggle to find suitable homes, or are forced to give up their pets all together.
The Renters Reform Bill, introduced to Parliament on May 17, 2023, is not yet law, but if passed will mean good news for pet owners.
It would forbid landlords from issuing blanket bans on tenants living with animals.
Landlords would be unable to “unreasonably” refuse requests to live with pets, and a refusal can be challenged.
But they will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.
The Renters Reform Bill is intended to make sure landlords do not “unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home”, Gov.uk says .
Very few rental listings are listed as pet-friendly, but property portal Zoopla has a pets allowed filter.
Home-seekers can select the “pets allowed” box when search for a property under letting type.
OpenRent, the UK’s largest lettings agent, lets users search for pet-friendly properties on its website.
SpareRoom has a “pets considered” filter.
The Dogs Trust has also set up the Lets With Pets website that contains advice on how to find suitable rental properties.
