Pets in social housing: why it's banned
Nathan Anderson, Unsplash
Luxembourg's Minister of Housing has issued a clarification on the keeping of pets in social and rental housing. The topic came to the fore following a parliamentary enquiry by MP Marc Goergen, who raised the issue of bans on pets in publicly funded housing.
What are the rules that apply?
- The Société Nationale des Habitations à Bon Marché (SNHBM) prohibits the keeping of pets under rental contracts (Contrats de Bail) and internal regulations (Règlement d'ordre intérieur). However, exceptions are allowed if the presence of an animal is justified by medical reasons confirmed by a specialist.
- The Fonds du Logement (Housing Fund) allows tenants to have pets as long as they do not damage the property or inconvenience neighbours.
- The keeping of animals is strictly prohibited in government accommodation centres for refugees and asylum seekers (Office National d'Accueil).
- In the case of social rented housing (Gestion Locative Sociale, GLS) managed by different partners, there is no single regulation. The regulation depends on the specific organisation.
The diversity of rules emphasises the difficulties in resolving the issue. On the one hand, bans on animals are justified on the grounds of sanitary norms and the interests of neighbours. On the other hand, animals often play an important role in the emotional and psychological support of people, especially in situations of social vulnerability.
Luxembourg's approach illustrates the endeavour to balance the interests of all parties. However, the lack of uniform rules raises questions about the transparency and equity of the approach. Perhaps more detailed research is needed to assess the impact of pets on the quality of life of social housing residents.
