B.C.’s housing crisis is a crisis for pets too.
With vacancy rates among the lowest in the country, finding a safe and affordable place to live in B.C. is a challenge — and, because of widespread pet restrictions, even more so if you happen to have pets, as more than half of British Columbians do.* As a result, many people are compelled to give up their pets — their family members — because the alternative is homelessness.
The BC SPCA sees the issue firsthand, as a lack of pet-friendly housing is the primary reason that healthy, loved adult pets are surrendered to us — more than 12,400 cats, dogs and small animals since 2014 (not counting pets surrendered to other organizations, rehomed privately or, sadly, abandoned as strays).
What you’ll find on this page:
- Pet-friendly housing matters for pets AND people
- Advocating for pet-friendly housing
- Resources for pet owners and housing providers *RECENTLY UPDATED*
Pet restrictions affect some people more than others
Around 27% of British Columbians have faced challenges finding pet-friendly housing, and another 24% have wanted to have a pet but could not because of pet restrictions in the places they’ve lived.* Low-income households are particularly impacted. Rent for pet-friendly places tends to cost more, and provincial legislation allows for a one-time pet deposit of half of one month’s rent (in addition to a security deposit). It also takes low-income pet owners longer to find housing than pet owners in higher income brackets.
Pet restrictions create barriers for other vulnerable people too. Those experiencing homelessness, including youth, are less likely to access temporary shelter and other forms of housing, soup kitchens and healthcare services when they have pets. Women in violent relationships often delay leaving, stay in or even return to unsafe situations to protect their pets. Seniors with pets are less likely to visit the doctor or agree to hospitalization and often delay moving into a care home.
In light of the mental health crisis that is also evident today, animals are playing an even more significant role in people’s lives.
These impacts illustrate the strength of the human-animal bond — the connection that people have with their pets and the difficult choices they will make to preserve that connection.
Pet-friendly housing is not just an animal issue
Research is clear that the bond we have with our pets enhances our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
These benefits are evident here in our province. British Columbians agree that their pets have:
- Positively affected their mental health (84%).
- Helped them feel less lonely (86%).
- Positively affected their physical health (76%).
- Helped them connect with other people (67%).*
Because their pets mean so much to them, people are willing to compromise on factors such as location, safety and basic amenities when it comes to housing. To find pet-friendly housing, British Columbians have:
- Stayed in a place longer than they wanted to (30%).
- Settled for a place that is smaller/more run-down/lacking amenities such as a washer/dryer (31%).
- Settled for a place that is further from work/school/childcare/dog parks/other amenities (22%).
- Settled for a place in a neighbourhood where they do not feel safe (18%).**
*Stratcom poll conducted for the BC SPCA July 7-10, 2025 (n=1,003, margin of error +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20)
**Stratcom poll conducted for the BC SPCA May 23-28, 2024 (n=1,000, margin of error +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20)
Advocating for pet-friendly housing
The BC SPCA has long been concerned about the lack of pet-friendly housing in the province.
In 2018, a provincial task force was established to review the Residential Tenancy Act and make recommendations to modernize B.C.’s tenancy laws. The BC SPCA made a submission (PDF) along with numerous other stakeholders. Ultimately, however, the Rental Housing Task Force chose not to recommend removing the pet-restrictive language from the Act.
Despite this decision, the BC SPCA remains committed to reducing barriers for people seeking pet-friendly housing across the province. In 2023, we called for the provincial government to:
- Direct BC Housing to develop strategies and guidance that support pet-friendly housing in the non-profit sector
- Consider pet-friendly housing in the BC Housing Strategy update and to work with stakeholders (including but not limited to landlord’s and tenant’s associations, animal welfare organizations, public health, mental health and seniors organizations, and poverty reduction and homelessness advocates) to find cooperative solutions to increase the availability and affordability of pet-friendly housing for all British Columbians while providing appropriate protections and mechanisms of compensation for landlords
The Union of BC Municipalities endorsed this resolution at their 2023 annual convention, and the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services made a similar recommendation in its Report on the Budget 2024 Consultation (PDF).
In 2024, we asked B.C.’s political parties and candidates to commit to taking action on six animal welfare policy issues, including pet-friendly housing, if elected to the provincial government. Over 80% of the more than 16,000 British Columbians who signed onto our election campaign ranked pet-friendly housing in their top three priorities for B.C.’s provincial government to address.
We also urged our supporters to sign a petition asking the federal government to include Canadian tenants with pets in a legally binding, nationwide Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights that would void any “no pet” clauses in tenancy agreements so that tenants with pets are no longer excluded from rental housing. The petition gathered an amazing 19,579 signatures, including 6,381 from caring British Columbians.
The good news? Our advocacy is having an impact!
The BC NDP Party, who will form B.C.’s provincial government for the next four years, committed (PDF) to end the bias against pet owners in purpose-built rental buildings to ensure renters no longer have to make the difficult choice between the housing they need and the pet they love.
We look forward to working with the provincial government to increase the availability and affordability of pet-friendly housing for all British Columbians.
Resources for pet owners and housing providers
These resources and tools have been developed to help British Columbians find housing with their pets and help property owners, managers, stratas and non-profit housing organizations provide pet-friendly housing.
Our renter’s guide (PDF) includes a sample rental agreement, answers to frequently asked questions about renting with pets, and a pet resume template to tell prospective landlords more about your pets.
Our property owner and manager guide (PDF) includes a sample rental agreement and information about the benefits of making your property available to people with pets.
Our strata council guide (PDF) contains sample pet policies, pet registration forms and information on the benefits and importance of pet-friendly stratas.
Our pet-friendly housing toolkit for non-profits (PDF) outlines the importance of housing people with their pets and contains administrative tools to help you successfully implement and manage pet-friendly policies, easy-to-understand animal care and body language guides to increase staff and tenant awareness, and links to community supports for pet food, veterinary care and training.
Resources for all housing providers, landlords and stratas
Administrative Resources (Editable)
Animal Care Resources
