What you told us and what we're doing

What we asked

We asked tenants to review the draft policy, which explains how requests to keep pets will be considered and what we expect from responsible pet owners living in Council housing.

What you said

77 responses were received.

• 69% supported the policy.
• 91% found it easy to read and understand.

People told us they were concerned about:

• What would happen to pets they already own.
• The proposed two-pet limit.
• Animal welfare.
• Rules about birds, fish and reptiles.
• Restrictions on cat flaps.
• Support animals and assistance dogs.

What we did

We listened to the feedback and made several changes to the policy.

We:

• Confirmed that existing pets will not normally be affected when the policy starts.
• Clarified that tenants will not need to apply again for pets they already own.
• Changed the proposed two-pet limit so requests for more than two pets can still be considered based on individual circumstances.
• Made the policy more flexible for different types of pets, with a greater focus on animal welfare and property suitability.
• Clarified that cat flap requests would not normally be approved but can still be considered on an individual basis in certain circumstances.
• Strengthened information about assistance dogs, therapy dogs, support animals and reasonable adjustments.

The new policy:

• Provides a clear and consistent approach to pet ownership in Council housing.
• Reflects new rights introduced through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
• Promotes responsible pet ownership.
• Supports animal welfare.
• Includes clearer information on assistance dogs, therapy dogs, support animals and how disability-related needs will be considered.
• Balances the benefits of pet ownership with the needs of neighbours and communities, while helping to keep Council homes in good condition.
• Sets out how pet-related concerns will be managed.

Next steps

The Pet Policy for Council Tenants was approved by elected members at the meeting of the Housing and Community Safety Committee on 10 September 2026. You can read the report presented to Committee here, which contains all of the feedback and responses to comments.

The policy will take effect from 1 October 2026.

We'll:

• Update our procedures
• Provide staff training and guidance
• Update application forms and supporting information
• Update tenant information
• Share information through our website and Tenants' Voice newsletter

The Pet Policy for Council Tenants will be published on our Housing Policies webpage