Pet Ownership in Sheltered Housing Schemes

A1. Purpose and application

This appendix forms part of the Responsible Pet Ownership Policy and applies to Norwich City Council tenants living in sheltered housing.

It sets out the pet restrictions applying to the sheltered housing schemes specifically identified in paragraph 7.1 of the Norwich City Council tenancy agreement. This appendix must be read alongside:

• the tenancy agreement
• the Responsible Pet Ownership Policy; and
• any conditions attached to permission to keep an animal.

A2. Sheltered schemes where only confined small pets are permitted

Under paragraph 7.1 of the tenancy agreement, tenants living in the following sheltered housing schemes must not keep animals other than confined small pets, such as budgerigars and goldfish. 

For the purposes of this appendix, a confined small pet is an animal that is kept securely within the tenant’s home in a suitable cage, tank, vivarium or other appropriate enclosure. The tenancy agreement gives budgerigars and goldfish as examples. 

Dogs, cats and other animals that are not confined small pets must not be kept at these five schemes.

A3. Other sheltered housing schemes

At all other Norwich City Council sheltered housing schemes not listed in section A2, tenants may keep animals subject to:

• the terms of the tenancy agreement
• the Responsible Pet Ownership Policy
• the suitability of the tenant’s home for the type and number of animals
• the tenant being able to care for and control the animal responsibly
• the animal not causing nuisance, damage, fouling or hygiene problems
• the animal not interfering with the use or enjoyment of communal areas
• the animal not creating a hazard for residents, visitors, council employees or contractors.

Paragraph 7.2 of the tenancy agreement permits animals outside the expressly restricted properties, provided they are kept responsibly and do not cause problems for neighbours, interfere with communal amenities or create hazards for council staff or contractors.

A4. Assistance animals and reasonable adjustments

Requests involving an assistance animal must be considered separately from an ordinary request to keep a pet. Norwich City Council will consider whether a reasonable adjustment is required in the individual circumstances.

An assistance animal must remain under appropriate control and must not cause avoidable nuisance, damage, fouling, obstruction or danger within the tenant’s home or communal areas. The Responsible Pet Ownership Policy recognises assistance animals and states that they are allowed under the Equality Act 2010. You must contact us if you wish to keep an assistance animal in Sheltered Housing, we may need to work with you to find other suitable accommodation if your Scheme does not allow that type of animal. 

A5. Conditions applying to permitted animals

Where an animal is permitted, the tenant must:

• meet the animal’s welfare needs and provide a safe and suitable living environment
• keep the number and type of animals appropriate to the size and type of the home
• keep dogs on a lead and under control in communal areas
• not allow an animal to roam unsupervised in communal areas
• immediately remove and hygienically dispose of animal fouling
• not allow an animal to cause persistent noise, aggression, nuisance or annoyance
• prevent damage to the home, scheme or communal areas
• not prop open communal security doors to allow an animal to enter or leave
• not breed, board or sell animals from the home
• make suitable arrangements for the animal’s care and evacuation during an emergency
• provide an emergency contact for your pet. If you are admitted to hospital or become unable to care for your pet, we can contact your nominated pet emergency contact to ensure responsibility is taken for your pet's welfare and wellbeing.

Communal lounge/internal communal areas 

• Pets of any type are not permitted within any internal communal areas of the scheme, except for registered assistance dogs. Evidence of assistance dog status may be required.

These requirements reflect the responsible-ownership and communal-area provisions in the current Responsible Pet Ownership Policy. 

A6. Existing animals

The restrictions in this appendix apply in accordance with the tenancy agreement. Any decision concerning an animal already living at a restricted sheltered scheme must take account of:

• the tenant’s individual circumstances
• the terms under which the animal was originally kept
• any relevant disability or reasonable-adjustment considerations
• animal welfare
• any nuisance, damage, fouling or hygiene concerns
• the council’s available tenancy-management and enforcement powers.

A7. Status of this appendix

The scheme classifications in this appendix are final and are derived from paragraph 7.1 of the Norwich City Council tenancy agreement.

For clarity:

• Douro House, St James’ House, Silkfields, Singer Court and Stone Road: confined small pets only.
• Other sites with communal internal flooring: confined small pets only.
• All other sheltered housing schemes: animals may be kept subject to the tenancy agreement, the Responsible Pet Ownership Policy and responsible-ownership requirements.