As of January 2021, landlords couldn’t prevent their tenants from having pets without good reason.
With the release of the Fairer Rented Sector whitepaper in June, the Government has set clear guidelines for landlords & letting agents to follow when it comes to pets in properties.
Here’s what you need to know:
There will no longer be a blanket ban on pets, and tenants will be able to challenge a decision not to allow them to have pets in a property.
That being said, updates to the Tenant Fees Act will include pet insurance paid by the tenant if they are to have pets in a property so that landlords are covered for any damages and don’t have to go into extra expenses to accommodate pets.
A recent survey showed that almost 70% of tenants do have pets, so getting ahead of the curve and advertising your property as pet-friendly will open up a massive portion of the tenant market and increase demand for your property, especially in a time when there is so much competition for rented accommodation.
With that in mind, here are our 3 top tips for landlords to allow pet-friendly letting:
Ask questions about the pet.
You don’t want to let your property without knowing what kind of animal is in it, and if it is a bigger animal such as a dog, knowing how old it is can help you to make the best decision for you & the tenant
Check your cover.
Whilst the amendments to the Tenant Fees Act will include pet insurance, it is always a good idea to check if your landlord and building & contents insurance covers accidental damage done by pets, or see if your insurance provider has additional cover for pets. You need to be prepared if there is any accidental damage as this can eat into your returns if you have to deal with it yourself.
Get a reference.
Get a reference from a previous landlord the tenant has rented with since they’ve had a pet if there is one. This will give you insight into how the property was kept and if the tenant is responsible as well as the condition the property was in upon the end of the tenancy.
Have questions on pet-friendly letting?
Book a call with our lettings team below