Trainee service dogs

TwitchAndMore
TwitchAndMore Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
edited February 2 in Housing and independent living

Has anyone had any luck with letting their private landlord allow them to have a trainee service dog? The waiting lists for charities are so long and have such high backlogs that I've found organisations which help aid you to train your own. I was just worried about the fact that you can have a trained service dog legally as it is seen as an aid, but the same doesn't go for a trainee service dog. Has anyone managed to get their landlord on their side andhave any tips?

Tagged:

Comments

  • TwitchAndMore
    TwitchAndMore Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    edited December 2024

    I like in a privetly rented flat and have been looking into getting an assistance dog to help me with my disabilities (mobility, seizures ect). There's such a shortage on assistance dogs already trained by charities that I've decided to owner train a dog with a training organisation. I'll be getting a dog not yet trained and then be training it to be able to help me manage my disabilities.

    The landlady has given me permission to have the trainee assistance dog but then the freeholder of the flats said no.

    I'm at a loss on what to do as the trainer provider said the dog isn't protected unless it has had some training, but I won't be able to do that until I have the dog.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 846 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited February 2

    Hi @TwitchAndMore that's a tough one! I presume they've declined just whilst training is ongoing? I don't think they can prevent you once it's trained. It's disappointing they're not more supportive given the circumstances.

    Just wondering about alternatives whilst training. Could somebody you know and trust temporarily house and train?

    All the best,

    Holly.

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 13,220 Championing
    edited February 2

    apparently I have seen something in a law to say that it is against the law not to let you have an assistance dog in the flat if you have a disability

  • Ray212
    Ray212 Online Community Member Posts: 580 Empowering
    edited February 2

    That maybe correct but at the moment it is not an assistance dog as it hasn't had the training, it's just a normal dog unfortunately.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 846 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited February 2

    You're right @durhamjaide2001 but unfortunately as @Ray212 has said, whilst the dog isn't yet an assistance dog, it looks like the freeholder has found a bit of a loophole (at least temporarily until trained).

    I find it really disappointing that they've chosen to do that. It just seems very wrong even if it is "technically" legal... 😔

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 890 Championing
    edited February 2
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/959420#Comment_959420

    I understand your point, but I don't think it's accurate to describe this as a "technical loophole." Legally, assistance dogs are classified as auxiliary aids, not pets, and their presence is protected under law. However, many leasehold flats still have a "no pets" policy in their lease agreements, and some even prohibit visiting pets on the property.

    Once the dog has completed its training as an assistance dog, the tenants (TwitchAndMore) will need to request their landlady, the leaseholder, to reapply to the freeholder for permission to keep the assistance dog. This process is part of the legal framework for assistance dogs, but it doesn't give tenants free rein to bypass the "no pets" policy just by claiming a dog is "in training." Until the dog is fully trained, it doesn't have the same legal standing as an assistance dog.

    So, while the situation may be frustrating, it’s not about a loophole; it’s about the legal distinction between assistance dogs and pets.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 846 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited February 2

    Thanks @MW123, perhaps the wrong use of term from me there. I'm far from a legal expert.

Categories