Berkeley's city council is considering a first-of-its-kind law barring landlords from restricting pets.
Under the proposed law, tenants would be required to disclose whether they have a pet before signing the lease. Supporters argue that would improve transparency between tenants and landlords.
Tenants would still be fully responsible for property damage.
Adam Goldstein, who visited Ohlone dog park in Berkeley on Monday to play with his dog, said he remembers the challenge of finding pet-friendly apartments on Craigslist.
"You get about 200 results in the area if you were a pet owner," Goldstein said. "But if you searched as a dog owner, you get about 10."
City Councilman Jesse Arreguin came up with the proposal, which is scheduled to be discussed by the council for the first time on Tuesday.
"I fundamentally think tenants should have the same rights as homeowners to have a pet with some reasonable restrictions, obviously," Arreguin said.
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The councilman added some renters have been forced to surrender their pets at the Humane Society because of the no-pet policy. Landlords in the proposal are also protected from problem pets.
"If the tenant doesn't do anything about it, the tenant could be evicted," Arreguin said.
Landlords aren’t too happy about the proposal.
Sid Lakireddy, president of the Berkeley Property Owners Association, said he sees problems with the proposal. For example, a tenant with three cats who moves out, giving way to a renter with allergies.
"Is it really fair to charge for replacing a brand new carpet to a tenant who had three cats?" Lakireddy said. "I think he would not like that."
