A staggering one in ten rental properties currently listed on the market are pet-friendly according to am in depth survey performed by ZeroDeposit.com
Landlords are not changing their ‘anti-pets’ habits despite the impending Renters Rights Bill to make dog and cat refusal much more difficult
This is because landlords and letting agents will no longer be able to ‘unreasonably’ refuse tenants pets in a rental home – but despite this property listings show landlords are not yet adjusting to the changes
In the UK, it is estimated that 51% of adults own a pet, but the rental sector has a long history of not being pet-friendly with only a tiny proportion of rental properties (just 8%) allowing pets.
As a result, a huge number of tenants are unable to find a home that will accept them and their pets.
NORTH EAST IS BEST
On a regional level, tenants with pets in the North East have the best chance of securing a home with 9% of listings currently marketed as pet-friendly.
But pet-friendly properties are rarest in the West Midlands (5%), followed by the East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber at 6%, the East of England at 7% and London, the South West, South East, and North West at 8%.
There’s a natural reticence among landlords to open their property to pets for fear of the damage they can potentially cause.
Many will have experienced pet damage to their properties which has shaped this preference. But these landlords are swimming against an increasingly fervent tide.
Property damage costs money to repair and the spend can be challenging to recoup and can eat into profit margins.
But we have to remember, clauses can be included into the Tenancy Agreement or via a Pet Addendum where the Tenant(s) adhere too to make sure that damage is kept to a minimal, rectified at the point of damage and carpets cleaned on a regular basis etc
It is also possible that the bill will give landlords the right to insist that specific insurance is taken out.
Do you agree that Landlords should be forced to accept Pets or do you agree in them having the right to choose what’s best for their investment/property
If you have any questions relating to pets in lets, feel free to get in touch
Thanks for reading as always
Sandie