Brits love animals. Half the country has pets. Problem is…they can be troublesome for landlords. Thing is, as it turns out, there’s a higher demand for pet-friendly rental properties than there is supply. The biggest reason is cost, but is that all there is to be concerned about?
Read on to find out some pros and cons to help you decide if it’s worthwhile extending your rental property to responsible pet owners.
First up, the Rules
Check your lease
If you have a leasehold property (usually flats), check the fine print of your leasehold agreement as you may not be allowed to accept tenants with pets. Most houses are freehold with no restrictions for pets.
The Law
The Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 forbids a blanket ban preventing tenants with pets from renting. You can give preference to a tenant without a pet, but you can’t outright refuse to rent your property because someone has a pet. Evicting a tenant who brings a pet into your property without permission can be difficult to enforce.
Assistance Dogs Must be Allowed
Assistance dogs can be buddy dogs, guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs for the deaf, seizure alert dogs for people with epilepsy, medical detection dogs for diabetics alerting them to low blood sugar levels, and general support dogs for the disabled. Assistance dogs must be allowed, otherwise, it would be classed as discrimination against disabled persons.
For all other pets, landlords can choose to allow pets to move into their property, or not.
Things to consider…
The Disadvantages of Accepting Tenants with Pets
Damage
This is the topmost concern for landlords. Accepting a tenant with a pet that scratches furnishings, chews on skirting boards, and scratches doors and wood flooring. If you are considering renting to a tenant with a pet, also consider raising your price. Most pet owners are willing to pay extra rent when they know they don’t have to rehome their furry friends.
Cost of Professional Deep Cleaning
When your tenant does move out, the property will need a thorough cleaning throughout. New prospective tenants may have pet allergies. Stale dog smell and cat urine stains (and smells) on carpets are not inviting. Neither are finding crickets throughout a home that’s been leased to a tenant with a reptile. Expect a higher cleaning bill.
You Could Become Responsible for an Abandoned Pet
Should your tenant abandon the property leaving behind a stray pet, or your tenant is evicted and leaves their pet behind, it’s the responsibility of the landlord to deal with abandoned pets. Not the bailiffs. Also, if you’re renting to someone single who is taken into hospital, you’ll need a named contact to reach to take care of the pet. Otherwise, the responsibility for the animal’s welfare falls on the landlord.
It’s not all doom and gloom though…
The Advantages of Accepting Tenants with Pets
No Sneaky Renters
Given the shortage of pet-friendly properties to rent, many renters will accept a tenancy and move their pets in without notifying their landlord. You need reasonable grounds to enforce a no pets policy.
Double Your Potential Tenant Pool (and earn more)
1 in 2 homes in the UK have a pet. There’s a shorter supply of pet-friendly homes than there is demand. Responsible pet owners know that moving home is stressful, so they are more likely to stay in your property for longer. A long-term tenant means you can avoid the voids, keeping the rental income coming in.
Responsible Pet Parents Make Responsible Tenants
A potential tenant who has cared for a healthy pet for years is more likely to be a responsible tenant. If they can care for a pet, pay for vet costs, and ensure it gets decent levels of activity daily, it’s a safe assumption, they can be a responsible tenant and pay their rent.
In Conclusion…
The main downside to allowing pets into rented accommodation is the additional overhead. On the upside, many renters will happily pay more as a pet fee to allow them to rent and bring their pet with them.
Landlords can take additional measures to protect their property investment by, for example, charging a higher deposit fee, raising the rental price, and/or checking pet references, such as obtaining a reference from a vet or a dog walker or pet sitter service.
If you have a vacant property and are open to considering tenants with pets, expert advice is a phone call away. Call us on 01925 499599, or drop into our office to talk through your options to protect your property and your income, while attracting more prospective tenants.
