Deputy Elizabeth Mateos seeks to modify the legal framework to eradicate practices in which people with pets and children are denied the possibility of renting real estate
Conditioning the rental of a home to only accept people who do not have pets or children could be considered an illegal practice in Mexico City. And it is that, in the capital’s Congress, an initiative was presented that seeks to eliminate this phenomenon and consider as an act of discrimination, denying the possibility of renting a family that has babies, dogs or cats.
Deputy Elizabeth Mateos was responsible for taking this initiative to Congress. According to the legislator, this practice, which has been taken by some property owners in the country’s capital, violates the human rights of the population.
Specifically, the initiative proposes reforming the Law to Prevent and Eradicate Discrimination, as well as the Civil Code of Mexico City. With these actions, the legislator seeks to modify the regulatory framework of rental operations in the capital and establish as discriminatory the limiting of housing rent to families without children or pets.
“It is essential to recognize that the upbringing of small children and the ownership of pets are essential aspects of life (…) For this reason, this initiative is being considered, which establishes these acts of concession towards tenants as a new form of discrimination. which, in addition, is intended to protect people who face these unfair restrictions and guarantee that they will have equal opportunities to find a home to live, “she said when speaking on the rostrum of Congress.
Thus, the legislator will seek through regulatory channels to eliminate this practice that she considers harmful to the population. Above all, said the deputy, the initiative seeks to respect the right to adequate housing.
“Many times, they limit people to renting with minor children or pets and this is a total act of injustice and discrimination, and human rights are being violated, we want to prevent this from happening,” she said in a released video.
The deputy pointed out that the initiative is also based on recognizing that all members of a family, including pets, can access adequate housing.
“We know that pets are part of our family and that our children are very important to us and have the right to decent housing. So, this is about not allowing landlords to discriminate against our minor children and pets and that this human right to decent housing can be exercised,” she explained.
Mateos added that the proposed modifications propose to establish as an obligation of the landlords, to refrain from carrying out this type of discriminatory conduct. In this way, she added, equitable access to housing is promoted regardless of their family situation.
“This implies the need to establish clear regulations that prohibit discrimination in the housing rental market and that protect the fundamental rights of individuals and their families (…) It is essential to promote an inclusive society where each individual has the freedom to choose their home without facing unfair barriers.”
It’s important to remember that a couple of weeks ago, a federal court issued a ruling that sets conditions around recognizing companion animals as part of the family.
In the resolution, the Eleventh Administrative Collegiate Court of CDMX recognized the existence of interspecies families in Mexico.
In this sense, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) also established in its jurisprudence the existence of multispecies families. Specifically, the highest court in the country recognizes the existence of four types of families, which it protects in terms of Article 4 of the Constitution, and which includes families made up of humans and pets.
Source: Centro Urbano
