Quebec Court Reopens Debate Over No-Pet Lease Clauses
Judges will reconsider whether rental restrictions on pet ownership violate charter rights as animal shelters brace for impact.
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The Court of Québec granted an appeal of a housing tribunal ruling that declared no-pet clauses in leases violate renters' charter rights, reopening a legal battle with implications for pet owners across the province.
Justice Scott Hughes found the issues raised by the case were serious, novel, and of public importance to merit an appeal. A landlord sought the appeal after Quebec's housing tribunal (TAL) ruled in March that clauses banning renters from owning pets violated Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
The Montreal SPCA said it partially consented to the appeal, welcoming the chance to present arguments before the higher court. "A victory on appeal could uphold the TAL's ruling and establish a binding precedent that its judges would be required to follow in future cases," said Sophie Gaillard, director of animal advocacy at the shelter.
The SPCA warned it is expecting to take in up to twice as many animals in the coming days ahead of the July 1 moving date. Unable to find pet-friendly housing is one of the main reasons tenants surrender their pets to shelters, the organization said.