#25435
Jimmy-T
Keymaster

    Firstly, what does the by-law actually say?  And I mean the specific wording not just what you think it says.

    If it says pets are not allowed, then you have to persuade 75 percent of owners that the by-law is out of date and that they are losing value in their property by having a blanket ban that prevents the 30 percent of households that have pets from bidding for their unit when it comes up for sale. Real Estate agents reckon “no pets” by-laws take 5 to 10 percent off the value of units.

    But be warned, residents who are used to not having to deal with pets will fight ferociously to maintain the status quo and other owners will go along with them to  keep the peace.  Your best bet may be to get investor owners onside  and deal with the residents later when you have a serious groundswell behind you.

    That will include writing letters and pointing out expert opinion about the financial and social benefits of having pets – as well as how easy it is to remove animals that turn out to be pests.

    The compulsory review of by-laws does not mean they have to be changed or brought up to date – but it does open the door.

    If you want to go down the assistance animal route, you will have to prove that you require this assistance and that the animal is properly trained to provide assistance.

    I would go for gentle persuasion, pointing out to owners that they have to review by-laws anyway (they probably don’t know) and they may as well look at the no-pet by-law which is the one that’s most out-of-date by today’s standards.  Animals and humans have been living happily together in unit blocks for decades and there’s plenty of evidence on-line to support why it is a good thing.

    Whatever happens, try not to make this a personal battle between tyou and your neighbours. You have to respect people’s right to chose to live in a unit block that doesn’t have animals in it. 

    The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.