A Labour MP has claimed back £900 from the taxpayer in ‘pet rent’ so she can bring her dog to London.
Taiwo Owatemi has regularly posted about her dog Bella on social media, and is a supporter of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as well as other pet charities.
The rent is a surcharge imposed by some landlords as a condition of letting a pet stay, intended to cover any additional risk from wear and tear such as damage to carpets.
Ms Owatemi, a Government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the expenses claim in August last year, a document published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) revealed, according to The Times.
Parliamentary authorities paid the expenses claim, which is not in breach of the rules governing MPs’ expenses.
Labour defended Ms Owatemi’s expenses claim, with a party spokesman saying: ‘MPs are required to work in two locations, and this is a requirement for living in this house.
Should taxpayers cover pet rent?
-
Yes, a pet is part of the family
-
No, MPs should get rent allowance but pay for their own pets
-
MPs should not be able to claim rent at all
Ready to start your homebuying journey?
You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:
– Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker
– Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week
– Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market
Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice.
Find out how much you could borrow online
Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
‘It is the same for many other MPs and has been approved by the parliamentary expenses watchdog.’
Ms Owatemi has frequently posted on social media in the past about her dog, a cockapoo named Bella.
MPs can claim back rent on their accommodation in London if they have a constituency outside of the capital.
More Trending
Governments have pushed to reform the rental sector in general, including making it easier for tenants with pets to find accommodation.
Many landlords have refused pets entirely, but they must legally now give a justifiable reason for this.
Ipsa told The Times it agreed to fund the pet rent surcharge for Ms Owatemi, but ‘gave incorrect advice as to how it should be described’.
‘We have apologised directly to the MP and are sorry for any confusion,’ the parliamentary watchdog added.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Trump ‘angry’ and ‘pissed off’ with Putin in change in rhetoric over Ukraine ceasefire
MORE: TV heartthrob Richard Chamberlain, star of Dr Kildare and Shogun, dies aged 90
