Housing association saying 'no' to therapy dog

zippy1969

I'm a support worker. I'm currently supporting a guy who lives in housing association accommodation. It's a very spacious ground floor flat and he lives alone. He's had various mental health issues over a long period, mainly anxiety related but also relating to autism.

His GP mentioned about getting a therapy dog. We talked about this and thought it might be beneficial for him. His GP wrote a letter of support. His tenancy agreement says permission must be granted for pets, despite other residents having cats that permission was never sought for. So we put together a letter of request and submitted it along with his GP letter, proof of DLA etc.

The housing manager came back and said "no, unfortunately we have a no pets policy.' This despite the tenancy agreement stating permission to own a pet can be requested, and the fact other tenants have cats.

The guy was going to get a small French Bulldog from a reputable breeder and put everything in place and go about dog ownership properly.

Anyway, I have now put together another letter and want to send this to someone higher up. I just wondered what anyone who might have been through a similar experience thinks?

This is the letter I have helped him write:

Hi

My name is xxxx xxxxxxxxx. I live in a ground floor property in xxxxxxxxxx xxx at xx xxxxxx xxxxx. I have been a tenant in this property for thirteen years.

Over the course of my tenancy I have never really asked for much. Indeed, I have always been supportive of my housing association, even to the point a few years ago where I gave evidence in court in order to support in evicting a troublesome resident.

I am a responsible tenant. My home is clean, tidy and well looked after. This attitude extends to how I treat the communal surroundings of the property. I treat my home as if I own it.

I have recently asked for permission to have a dog, but this permission has been denied.

I asked for permission to own a dog based mainly on the fact that my GP believes it would be therapeutic for me. I am registered disabled and claim ESA and high rate care DLA. I suffer from severe anxiety, suicidal depression and autism.

I supplied a very good case regarding my request for dog ownership. It is not something I would enter into lightly and did a lot of research into the right breed for my circumstances, sourcing from a reputable breeder etc.

I have been told that the policy is that dogs are not allowed in your flats, despite your tenancy agreement not specifically saying this. The tenancy agreement does not stipulate a 'no pets policy', in fact it states that permission can be requested. Additionally, I am told that cats are not allowed and yet some residents here have cats and nothing is done to enforce the apparent blanket policy of no pets. These cats prowl the area, often fighting with one another and can often be found sitting on top of cars or on the bonnets. The tenancy agreement also does not differentiate between houses and flats when asking for permission. Despite this some tenants in houses close by have dogs but, by your own admission, they have not asked for permission to keep them. So in effect a precedent has been set.

I feel I am being discriminated against in this request. I feel that to allow me to have a dog would be a 'reasonable adjustment' as per the Disability Discrimination Act. I have been told that I can be moved to accommodate me having a pet; despite it being obvious that moving would be considerably detrimental to my health. I have spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds over the years making my home comfortable. If I move, all of this is lost and I have to start again. I am on benefits so this would not be easy for me. The sheer thought of moving fills me with dread and anxiety.

My feeling is that the decision to not let me have a dog is more about the issues it would create for the housing manager rather than the therapeutic benefits it would give me. The main reason I am given is that it would cause issues for housing managers if they let me have a dog as everyone else would want one. You are supposedly a professional organisation and I'm sure you can manage this adequately? I would be gaining a 'reasonable adjustment' due to my health condition.

Evidence needs to be given and a case made just as I have done. Then you make a case by case decision. Just because my disability is not physical does not mean it is any less important... but I feel this is the prevailing attitude. If I am given permission for a dog then anyone else that wants one must then also have a case for a 'reasonable adjustment' such as I have presented. It is then up to you to decide. I feel my housing manager does not want this responsibility and that it is this and not my well-being that is at the heart of this decision.

There could be a ruling that dogs are only permitted in ground floor accommodation. This is a rule enforced regarding the laying of wooden flooring as I have been told many times.

I have attached many of my own conditions to the ownership request that take into account you and my neighbours and show my responsible approach to dog ownership. The dog is from a reputable breeder, is chipped and has been vaccinated. I will attend puppy training classes. The dog will be vet registered and fully insured.

I hope you can look into my request and reconsider the decision based on all the information I have given?

It is quite obvious that owning a dog would be hugely beneficial to me. In reading the your 'our deal' I would hope that anything that is therapeutic to my needs would be included under that commitment. Likewise, I agree to work with you and be a responsible dog owner with no impact felt by my neighbours regarding my dog, only a beneficial effect on my health and life.

I will collate all relevant correspondence in an addendum. Can I ask that you read it all carefully and hopefully look again at the decision that has been made? All I ask is that you review this decision compassionately and from the perspective of the richness it will bring to my life instead of the possible headaches that it will create for you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Regards,

...............



Any thoughts?

I've also been advised to send it to his MP in order that if they still say no then we can go to the housing ombudsman.

AJ1982

Tenancy Agreement is likely generic.

So where something "Can be requested" , it of course can be denied.

Although, given the medical justifications, in an HA property, this is a little OTT.

Doozergirl

Do not complain about other people or make assumptions about what they think. Set the case clearly and show the benefits for everyone. Stick to the point and take out what is irrelevant - cost of furnishing a new house, wooden floor policies etc.

They have said the policy is strictly 'no pets', you know it isn't.

Persuasion is all about influence, not argument. You want to make them agree with you. If you criticise people, they will be less likely to take your side.

Try and word all in positive language and shorten it.

There is loads of positive stuff in there, just be mindful of criticism.

zippy1969

AJ1982 wrote: »

Tenancy Agreement is likely generic.

So where something "Can be requested" , it of course can be denied.

Although, given the medical justifications, in an HA property, this is a little OTT.

What do you feel is OTT, the request or the refusal?

I must just add that there is a huge grassed area right next to his flat, about three quarters the size of a football pitch. Many residents in the houses who own dogs use this area to exercise them. I've highlighted this in previous correspondence.

fairy_lights

They might well have a 'no pets policy' but a therapy dog isn't a pet - it's an assistance dog with a role comparable to a guide dog. Would they be able to refuse a guide dog?

zippy1969

Doozergirl wrote: »

Do not complain about other people or make assumptions about what they think. Set the case clearly and show the benefits for everyone.

They have said the policy is strictly 'no pets', you know it isn't.

Persuasion is all about influence, not argument. You want to make them agree with you. If you criticise people, they will be less likely to take your side.

Try and word all in positive language and shorten it - it should get shorter when you take out your comments about the housing officer.

I understand where you are coming from. You have to understand that this is a letter that follows the initial request. That was very positive, gave lots of reasons why dog ownership would be beneficial etc and laid out the attitude that the tenant would be a responsible owner.

In saying "no" the housing manager did seem to concentrate on the headaches giving permission would cause her rather than concentrating on the positive effects ownership of a dog would bring. She could give no other reason for not allowing the dog other than this and did indeed admit to being satisfied the guy would be a responsible owner.

So I guess a letter disputing a decision does have to contain some form of argument and disagreement?

zippy1969

fairy_lights wrote: »

They might well have a 'no pets policy' but a therapy dog isn't a pet - it's an assistance dog with a role comparable to a guide dog. Would they be able to refuse a guide dog?

This isn't strictly true. Yes, a trained therapy dog would be an assistance dog and they would have to allow it.

This would be a dog he's having for therapeutic reasons... so it isn't quite the same thing.

LittleMax

fairy_lights wrote: »

They might well have a 'no pets policy' but a therapy dog isn't a pet - it's an assistance dog with a role comparable to a guide dog. Would they be able to refuse a guide dog?

A therapy dog is not equivalent to an assistance dog, and therapy dogs do not have right of entry into shops etc that assistance dogs have. Assistance dogs are specially selected and trained; this is being bought from a breeder and will be trained by OP's client so is just a pet, albeit one that the doctor has agreed would be beneficial. Disability legislation does not apply.

HappyMJ

You need to shorten the letter and get to the point a lot quicker.

LittleMax

zippy1969 wrote: »

I've also been advised to send it to his MP in order that if they still say no then we can go to the housing ombudsman.

Sending it to the MP has no bearing on any future case for the ombudsman. You can take any issue to the ombudsman, so long as you have exhausted the HA's complaints policy first.

pmlindyloo

zippy1969 wrote: »

I'm a support worker. I'm currently supporting a guy who lives in housing association accommodation. It's a very spacious ground floor flat and he lives alone. He's had various mental health issues over a long period, mainly anxiety related but also relating to autism.

His GP mentioned about getting a therapy dog. We talked about this and thought it might be beneficial for him. His GP wrote a letter of support. His tenancy agreement says permission must be granted for pets, despite other residents having cats that permission was never sought for. So we put together a letter of request and submitted it along with his GP letter, proof of DLA etc.

The housing manager came back and said "no, unfortunately we have a no pets policy.' This despite the tenancy agreement stating permission to own a pet can be requested, and the fact other tenants have cats.

The guy was going to get a small French Bulldog from a reputable breeder and put everything in place and go about dog ownership properly.

Anyway, I have now put together another letter and want to send this to someone higher up. I just wondered what anyone who might have been through a similar experience thinks?

This is the letter I have helped him write:

Hi

My name is xxxx xxxxxxxxx. I live in a ground floor property in xxxxxxxxxx xxx at xx xxxxxx xxxxx. I have been a tenant in this property for thirteen years. it is a spacious ground floor flat.

Over the course of my tenancy I have never really asked for much. Indeed, I have always been supportive of my housing association, even to the point a few years ago where I gave evidence in court in order to support in evicting a troublesome resident. Not relevant

I am a responsible tenant. My home is clean, tidy and well looked after. This attitude extends to how I treat the communal surroundings of the property. I treat my home as if I own it.

I have recently asked quote name of housing manager for permission to have a dog, but this permission has been denied.

I asked for permission to own a dog based mainly on the fact that my GP believes it would be therapeutic for me. I am registered disabled (don't beleive there is such a thing - omitand claim ESA and high rate care DLA. I suffer from severe anxiety, suicidal depression and autism. (see attached letter form doctor/whoever

I supplied a very good case regarding my request for dog ownership. It is not something I would enter into lightly and did a lot of research into the right breed for my circumstances, sourcing from a reputable breeder etc. (omit

Name of housing manager told that the policy is that dogs are not allowed in your flats, despite your tenancy agreement not specifically saying this. The tenancy agreement does not stipulate a 'no pets policy', in fact it states that permission can be requested.Omit the next part to Additionally, I am told that cats are not allowed and yet some residents here have cats and nothing is done to enforce the apparent blanket policy of no pets. These cats prowl the area, often fighting with one another and can often be found sitting on top of cars or on the bonnets. The tenancy agreement also does not differentiate between houses and flats when asking for permission. Despite this some tenants in houses close by have dogs but, by your own admission, they have not asked for permission to keep them. So in effect a precedent has been set. to here

I feel I am being discriminated against in this request. I feel that to allow me to have a dog would be a 'reasonable adjustment' as per the Disability Discrimination Act. I have been told that I can be moved to accommodate me having a pet; despite it being obvious that moving would be considerably detrimental to my health. I have spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds over the years making my home comfortable. If I move, all of this is lost and I have to start again. I am on benefits so this would not be easy for me. The sheer thought of moving fills me with dread and anxiety.
Omit this paragraph
My feeling is that the decision to not let me have a dog is more about the issues it would create for the housing manager rather than the therapeutic benefits it would give me. The main reason I am given is that it would cause issues for housing managers if they let me have a dog as everyone else would want one. You are supposedly a professional organisation and I'm sure they can manage this adequately? I would be gaining a 'reasonable adjustment' due to my health condition. Omit this paragraph

Evidence needs to be given and a case made just as I have done. Then you make a case by case decision. Just because my disability is not physical does not mean it is any less important... but I feel this is the prevailing attitude. If I am given permission for a dog then anyone else that wants one must then also have a case for a 'reasonable adjustment' such as I have presented. It is then up to you to decide. I feel my housing manager does not want this responsibility and that it is this and not my well-being that is at the heart of this decision. Omit this paragraph

There could be a ruling that dogs are only permitted in ground floor accommodation. This is a rule enforced regarding the laying of wooden flooring as I have been told many times. Omit this paragraph

I have attached many of my own conditions to the ownership request that take into account you and my neighbours and show my responsible approach to dog ownership.Omit previous The dog is a small (name breedfrom a reputable breeder, is chipped and has been vaccinated. I will attend puppy training classes. The dog will be vet registered and fully insured. I will ensure that my dog does not cause any problems to neighbours and will regularly exercise him

I hope you can look into my request and reconsider the decision based on all the information I have given.

I have written this with the help of my support worker,(name). End here

Yours
It is quite obvious that owning a dog would be hugely beneficial to me. In reading the your 'our deal' I would hope that anything that is therapeutic to my needs would be included under that commitment. Likewise, I agree to work with you and be a responsible dog owner with no impact felt by my neighbours regarding my dog, only a beneficial effect on my health and life.

I will collate all relevant correspondence in an addendum. Can I ask that you read it all carefully and hopefully look again at the decision that has been made? All I ask is that you review this decision compassionately and from the perspective of the richness it will bring to my life instead of the possible headaches that it will create for you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Regards,

...............



Any thoughts?

I've also been advised to send it to his MP in order that if they still say no then we can go to the housing ombudsman.

Just my suggestions - hope they make sense!

Only other thing that might be worth adding is your willingness to 'oversee purchase/puppy training etc etc