The change, which came into effect on Friday, May 1, gives tenants in the private rented sector in England the legal right to request permission to keep pets in their rented homes.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords cannot unreasonably refuse pet requests, marking a significant shift for Oxfordshire renters who have long faced blanket pet bans.

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “This is an historic day for pet ownership.

“For too long, renters in England have been unfairly denied the potential joy of pet ownership.

“That ends thanks to this new law.

“This change is a lifeline – not just for families wanting to add a loving pet to the household, but for the many thousands of animals currently stuck in many full to bursting centres, who will now have many new opportunities to find loving adopters.

“Pet ownership is such a big commitment – but can be so rewarding.

“At the RSPCA, we are celebrating that the Renters’ Rights Act will facilitate happier, healthier tenants right across the country – and help us tackle a pet rehoming crisis.”

The charity has described the new law as an opportunity to ‘revolutionise’ pet ownership and believes it will give more animals a chance of finding a home, especially as many of its centres are currently at full capacity.

In recent weeks, the RSPCA has worked with the UK Government to highlight the impact the change could have for prospective pet owners.

The legislation also promises relief for current pet owners who often face the tough decision of giving up their animals to secure housing.

Mr Bowles said this scenario has been all too common.

He said: “There are gut-wrenching examples of people having to surrender their pets to access somewhere to live, because their tenancy agreement will not allow pets.

“Thankfully, those situations too will soon be a thing of the past.”

Among the animals who may benefit from the new law is Sweeny, a Mastiff who has spent nearly a year at the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Centre in Birmingham.

Brittanny Baker, animal care assistant, said: “He’s been with us for 11 months now but he is constantly overlooked by potential adopters which breaks my heart.

“Sweeny may be a big boy, but he’s certainly got a big heart.

“He’s goofy, playful and loveable. He learns fast and enjoys training as well as quiet walks out, and playing in the off-lead paddock.”

More information about the RSPCA’s work and its Good Practice Guide for the housing sector can be found on the charity’s website.

Villagers in Tackley, near Kidlington, have expressed their frustration at Network Rail’s scheduled works to replace the rail bridge at the station from this summer.

The works are due to last between six and eight months until spring next year, and will require the full closure of the southbound platform at the station for the duration.

Tackley Railway Station (Image: Nigel Thompson / Wikimedia Commons)

This means that no trains will be running from Tackley to Oxford for up to eight months.

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Great Western Railway has said no rail replacement bus services will be provided, instead recommending that passengers take the train in the opposite direction for one stop to Heyford and turn around, or take existing S4 Stagecoach bus to Oxford.

Villagers are saying this is ‘not good enough’.

Dr Jill Millar, a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, depends on the train to get to work.

The temporary footbridge at Tackley Railway Station, set to be replaced from June (Image: Network Rail)

She said: “A lack of trains will add significant time and a level of uncertainty to my commute.

“I cannot understand why Network Rail is taking so long to construct a footbridge and disappointed that Great Western Railway is not making reasonable alternative arrangements.”

An open letter petition has also been launched for those affected by the services to add their signatures to.

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The letter said: “First Great Western’s passenger charter makes it clear that the rail company is responsible for rail replacement services.

“The suggestion that people use the S4 bus is wholly inadequate. It is crowded, slow, and not a rail replacement service.  

“We look forward to First Great Western arranging  suitable rail replacement services.

“We suggest that the cheapest and most convenient for all would be a bus to Heyford, timed to meet the southbound trains.”

Great Western Railway will not be providing rail replacement services (Image: Archive)

Network Rail said the responsibility to supply alternative rail services falls on Great Western Railway, and confirmed construction of the footbridge will begin in June and is expected to be finished in spring 2027, with the lifts to follow ‘later in the year’.

A spokesperson for Great Western Railway said: “When the new bridge opens, Tackley will be fully accessible for the first time in its history; a permanent improvement that will make a real and lasting difference to passengers and the wider community for years to come.

“To deliver that, there will be a temporary period of disruption from June 12, during which the Oxford-bound platform has to be closed.

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‘Dangerous’ Tackely level crossing was closed in 2020 (Image: National Rail)

“The impact on passengers has been carefully considered. Customers can travel to Heyford or Banbury and connect to Oxford at no extra cost or use the existing hourly S4 Stagecoach bus.

“To ensure no one is left out of pocket, we are temporarily reducing the cost of a single rail ticket from Oxford to Tackley so the combined cost of bus and train remains equivalent to an off-peak return fare.”

Construction of the footbridge has been a long standing project since the emergency closure of Tackley level crossing in 2020, due to dangerous trespassing on the tracks.

James Holder, 54, had gone back to the woman’s home, went to the toilet and then promptly fell asleep on her bed, snoring.

The multi-millionaire fashion boss then woke up and beckoned the woman, who was trying to sleep in the lounge, into her bedroom and raped her.

Holder had denied charges of assault by penetration and rape and said that what sexual activity took place between them was consensual.

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A jury at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester, acquitted Holder of assault by penetration but found him guilty of rape.

The court heard the woman was attacked in the early hours of May 7, 2022, after a night out at a bar in Cheltenham.

Holder and a friend had gone back to her home uninvited, and he attacked her after waking from a short nap on her bed.

Giving evidence, the woman said she was crying and asking the married father-of-two to stop, but he carried on.

The ordeal ended when she managed to escape the bedroom, and Holder left her home a short time later.

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The woman denied suggestions from Holder’s barrister that she had initiated the encounter.

“He forced me to try and perform oral sex on him,” she said.

Michelle Heeley KC, defending, said: “Sex lasted for approximately 20 minutes.”

The woman replied: “I call it rape.”

Ms Heeley suggested: “This was a drunken sexual encounter that you regret?”

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She replied: “Incorrect.”

The court heard the businessman and philanthropist was “old school and chivalrous” towards women and “adored sex”.

He told the jury she had kissed him first, and it was “evident what she wanted to happen”.

“We walked to the bedroom, which was about a minute away … and began kissing again,” he said.

He told the court the complainant performed oral sex on him before they progressed to consensual sexual intercourse, but stopped when she said it was becoming painful.

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“I did not see or hear her crying at any point,” he said.

Asked why he left the flat a short time later, Holder replied: “I had been out for much longer than I anticipated, and I needed to go home.

“I let myself out. She was asleep on the bed.”

Under cross-examination, Holder denied that the reason he had gone to the woman’s home was that he “saw an opportunity to have sex with her”.

James Haskell, prosecuting, asked: “You saw something you wanted, and you took it, because the truth is that when you got to the doorway of the living room, you said something like: ‘What’s happening, is everything all right?’ as you wanted to entice her to the bedroom, and that’s why you said: ‘Can you show me?’

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“It ended because she managed to escape off the bed.”

Holder replied: “That’s not correct. She fell straight to sleep. She was fast asleep, so I popped my clothes on and left.”

Mr Haskell was asked: “Is the truth that it suddenly dawned on you of the reality of what you had just done, and you wanted to get out of the flat as soon as possible?”

Holder replied: “No, not true.”

The defendant, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing.