Pet Permission
The Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement requires you to get written permission before keeping a pet.
Owning a pet can have a positive influence on a family and people can reap many health benefits from being a pet owner. However, as your landlord we need to consider any potential impact on your neighbours and our staff as well as animal welfare or health and any safety considerations that may arrive. Therefore, you must have written permission from West Lothian Council before you can keep a pet in your tenancy.
Permission to keep a pet is not indefinite. If your pet causes nuisance or you fail to properly control or look after your pet, we will revoke our permission. If the problems are serious and persistent, we will act in line with our Polices and Procedures and in conjunction with external agencies such as Police Scotland and the SSPPCA, which could also include taking legal action.
We will consider all applications to keep a pet on a case by case basis and will be reasonable, consistent and fair in deciding if permission is granted.
Pet Applications
Application to Keep a Dog
We will only consider permission if you have exclusive use of a garden.
If your dog falls under the Government Exemption scheme you will need to provide microchip and insurance documents along with the Government Exemption certificate.
We will only give permission to keep 2 dogs.
For information about XL Bully Dogs click here.
Assistance Dogs/Therapy Dogs
You do not need to submit a pet permission application, but you will need to provide a copy of the dog's accreditation. Please send this to your housing officer by Contacting Us Online or by Contact Us in Person.
Other Pet Applications
Other pets that may be permitted are domestic animals such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and caged birds. This list is not exhaustive.
When we give permission, you must ensure that your pet does not negatively affect our staff and contractors ability to carry out their roles. You should keep dogs and cats in other rooms or outside when we visit you at your home.
We will not grant permission for any of the following:
- Dogs specified under the Dangerous Dog Act
- Animals listed in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
- Livestock such as sheep, goats and cattle
- Any endangered species.
Revoking Pet Permission
You are responsible for your pets. We take complaints about anti-social behaviour, nuisance and the mistreatment of pets, very seriously.
If we find that your pet is causing neighbour nuisance and you do not take steps to stop the nuisance, we will revoke permission for you to keep your pet.
We will also revoke permission where (but not limited to):
- You are using your pet for breeding
- You are neglecting or abusing your pet
- Your pet is not under control at all times
- Your pet damages our property
- Your pet presents a threat or risk to other people or animals.
If we revoke permission, you will have 28 days to find a new home for your pet. However, if we have serious health and safety concerns we will ask that you remove your pet immediately and involve other agencies such as the SSPCA and the Police. If you refuse, we will consider legal action being taken against you.
Appeal
If we refuse pet permission, you are entitled to appeal against West Lothian Council's decision. This must be in writing to your local Housing Manager within 14 days from the date of the decision letter.
