When I first started looking for an apartment in Victoria, I was amazed at how often landlords post ads requiring tenants to be non-smokers and generally prohibiting pets, particularly dogs.
I am a moderate smoker and I enjoy the company of my dog. I am also a professional, I am consistently employed, I earn a fair living, and my rent is paid on time every month. I do not smoke in my apartment, although I am permitted to do so. My dog is trained and my apartment is clean and well-maintained.
In spite of being an educated, industrious, responsible, tax-paying citizen, I find myself with increasingly limited options in finding suitable accommodations in Victoria. It is appropriate for a landlord to require a tenant to not smoke in the building. It is not appropriate for a landlord to advertise "non-smokers only." It is appropriate for a landlord to require tenants to take responsibility for pets, and pet deposits serve a valuable purpose. It is not appropriate to disregard rental applications from potentially tenants because of a pet. And just because tenants do not smoke and do not own pets does not make them good tenants.
Susie Harder
Victoria
