In response to Gro Krista Eltroet's letter of 16/4 the answer is yes.

The nation is a pet loving one and so are landlords.

Many small landlords are so because pension funds have performed badly in recent decades and those able to have put their limited funds into property to support their old age.

The comfort and companionship of pets is not disputed but how would you feel if your pension fund was compromised by departing tenants whose pets had defecated and urinated throughout your pension fund causing total replacement of carpets and full redecoration at the cost of thousand of pounds.

A property has to be clean and hygienic for a new tenant to move in. It has happened to me.

So often in society the bad behaviour of a few compromises the lives of many.

After such experiences landlords have to make provision, and as any Health and Safety expert will confirm the best way of dealing with a hazard is to firstly avoid it and secondly remove it or thirdly reduce it.

Landlords want tenants and they want to respect them and give them decent accommodation (it's good business), but respect and consideration must go both ways.

No landlord whether large or small can afford half a year's rent being thrown away because a tenant cannot control their pets properly.

And no landlord, whatever checks are done beforehand, can 100% guarantee that a tenant will behave as hoped for.

The safest course if action therefore is to not permit pets.

Alternatively, rents will have to increase to cover the the cost of deep hygienic cleans and possible refurbishment of properties for incoming tenants who have every right to expect decent accommodation.

There are good and bad in all sectors of society but on the whole landlords are a pretty decent bunch who do their best.

Please don't treat them as heartless villains and label them as "gross discriminators of a particular arrogant and gross kind showing a lack of understanding and care".

It isn't true.

We're only people too you know.

Stephen Feltham

Bournemouth