MP claims £900 in ‘pet rent’ so she can bring her dog to London
A Labour MP has claimed back £900 from the taxpayer in ‘pet rent’ so she can bring her dog to London.
Taiwo Owatemi has regularly posted about her dog Bella on social media, and is a supporter of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as well as other pet charities.
The rent is a surcharge imposed by some landlords as a condition of letting a pet stay, intended to cover any additional risk from wear and tear such as damage to carpets.
Ms Owatemi, a Government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the expenses claim in August last year, a document published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) revealed, according to The Times.
Parliamentary authorities paid the expenses claim, which is not in breach of the rules governing MPs’ expenses.
Labour defended Ms Owatemi’s expenses claim, with a party spokesman saying: ‘MPs are required to work in two locations, and this is a requirement for living in this house.
Should taxpayers cover pet rent?
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Yes, a pet is part of the family
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No, MPs should get rent allowance but pay for their own pets
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MPs should not be able to claim rent at all
‘It is the same for many other MPs and has been approved by the parliamentary expenses watchdog.’
Ms Owatemi has frequently posted on social media in the past about her dog, a cockapoo named Bella.
MPs can claim back rent on their accommodation in London if they have a constituency outside of the capital.
Governments have pushed to reform the rental sector in general, including making it easier for tenants with pets to find accommodation.
Many landlords have refused pets entirely, but they must legally now give a justifiable reason for this.
Ipsa told The Times it agreed to fund the pet rent surcharge for Ms Owatemi, but ‘gave incorrect advice as to how it should be described’.
‘We have apologised directly to the MP and are sorry for any confusion,’ the parliamentary watchdog added.
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