Pets & Lets

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, successfully launched its Lets with Pets campaign in 2009 with the aim of encouraging more landlords and letting agencies to accept tenants with pets. The charity hopes to make the process of privately renting with pets easier for tenants while highlighting the potential benefits to landlords and letting agencies.

Until now pet owners have largely been an untapped market but, by adopting a pet-friendly approach, landlords and letting agencies can increase demand for their properties and attract responsible tenants. After all, 47% of the UK population currently owns a pet1.

Research carried out by Dogs Trust has revealed that the three most common problems faced by landlords are rent arrears, damage caused by tenants and unpaid utility bills. Damage caused by pets did not feature in the top three.

To enable landlords and letting agencies to target and manage pet owners as tenants, Dogs Trust has launched a Lets with Pets website www.letswithpets.org.uk where they can download a range of comprehensive resources covering areas such as pet deposits, reference checks and writing tenancy agreements for pet owners.

The charity understands that landlords who have little experience of pets may be concerned by what they see as the pitfalls of pet ownership. To help them make an informed decision about accepting tenants with pets, the website contains information on responsible pet ownership, animals and the law and the most commonly kept pets.

Dogs Trust believes that the key to renting properties successfully to tenants with pets is to establish a clear pet policy, so it has developed a set of guidelines to help both parties:

Tips For Landlords

1. Limit the number of pets allowed according to the size and type of property

1. Limit the number of pets allowed according to the size and type of property

2. Ask for proof that cats and dogs are fully up to date with vaccinations and flea treatments

3. Evaluate prospective tenants and their pets on an individual basis– get a reference from a previous landlord where possible and judge each case on its merit. In the case of dogs, you could ask to meet the pet in advance

4. Ask for a reasonable, additional refundable deposit to cover any damage caused by pets or a non-refundable pet payment to cover the cost of professionally cleaning the property when the tenant moves out

5. Consult your solicitor about adding a clause to your usual tenancy agreement. This should include details on deposits, obligations and responsibility

6. Ensure the property is checked regularly by yourself or a management company to prevent problems from arising

7. When letting your property through a letting agent, make sure you tell them you would consider renting to pet owners and which pets you would accept

8. Visit the Lets with Pets website www.letswithpets.org.uk for information, advice and downloadable resources

Tip For Pet-Owning Tenants

1. Write a CV for your pet so that your landlord can objectively consider if it’s suitable for the property. It’s important to cover the following points:

1. Write a CV for your pet so that your landlord can objectively consider if it’s suitable for the property. It’s important to cover the following points:

• Your pet’s breed, size, age and activity level

• Your pet’s history of good behaviour and house training

• If your pet is neutered

• For dogs, if they has attended and completed any training classes

2. Get a reference from your previous landlord, letting agent or your vet to show your pet is well behaved and capable of living in rented accommodation without causing problems

3. Offer to pay a larger deposit to cover any potential damage

4. Offer to pay

5. Be as flexible as possible on location and property type

6. Don’t leave house hunting until the last minute and begin your search at least 6-8 weeks before you need to move out

7. If you own a dog, introduce him to your landlord to put their mind at ease

8. Be honest and don’t sneak your pet in without permission - or you could both find yourselves homeless

9. Tell your landlord how long your dog will be left alone in the property on a regular basis. It will help if you are able to state whether you will take your dog to work, arrange for day care or be at home with your dog most of the time

10. If your landlord gives you permission to keep a pet, make sure you get it in writing

Landlord case study 1

Landlord Hilary from Rugby has four buy-to-let properties and is happy to let them to pet owners. She says:

Landlord Hilary from Rugby has four buy-to-let properties and is happy to let them to pet owners. She says:

"I use a letting agent in Rugby to look after my houses for me and they take an extra deposit from the tenant just to cover the possible cost of carpet cleaning or repair any damages that might be caused by a pet. This gives me a little extra reassurance that there will not be any problems. I have let houses to tenants with both dogs and cats and would far rather a property was occupied by a responsible pet owner than left empty."

Landlord case study 2

Landlord Ben from Norwich has one rental property, which he has been happy to let to pet owners. He says:

Landlord Ben from Norwich has one rental property, which he has been happy to let to pet owners. He says:

"I rented my two bedroom house to a family with a dog and it was a very positive

experience. The tenants brought their dog with them on the second viewing so I

could meet him and see for myself that he was well behaved. They even offered to

pay a higher deposit. They moved out after 18 months and the property was left in

a good condition with no sign of a dog ever having lived there. I found that because we offered the property to tenants with pets, we found tenants very quickly. I would definitely rent my property to tenants with pets again."

Common myths exposed

Pets in rented accommodation will cause extensive damage to the property

Millions of households in the UK have pets in their homes without them causing damage to the property. Pet owners who care responsibly for their pets will also ensure that their home is well cared for. Landlords and letting agencies can minimise the risk of damage by finding out as much information as possible about the tenant and their pet before they move in. It’s also a good idea to ask for a reference from a previous landlord. Regular property inspections should be carried out so that any problems can be identified quickly and not allowed to escalate. Responsible pet owners often make the most responsible tenants.

Millions of households in the UK have pets in their homes without them causing damage to the property. Pet owners who care responsibly for their pets will also ensure that their home is well cared for. Landlords and letting agencies can minimise the risk of damage by finding out as much information as possible about the tenant and their pet before they move in. It’s also a good idea to ask for a reference from a previous landlord. Regular property inspections should be carried out so that any problems can be identified quickly and not allowed to escalate. Responsible pet owners often make the most responsible tenants.

Tenants with allergies won’t be able to live in a property where there has previously been a pet

While many people suffer from pet allergies, this should not prevent them from moving into a property where a pet has lived. Unless you are buying a brand new home, it’s impossible to guarantee that any property will be free from allergens. Dogs Trust recommends that all properties are professionally cleaned once the tenant and pet have moved out. This includes cleaning the carpets, curtains and soft furnishings. Cleaning a property at the end of a tenancy is normally done as standard so landlords and letting agencies should not have to take any extra steps to ensure it is suitable for a subsequent tenant with allergies.

While many people suffer from pet allergies, this should not prevent them from moving into a property where a pet has lived. Unless you are buying a brand new home, it’s impossible to guarantee that any property will be free from allergens. Dogs Trust recommends that all properties are professionally cleaned once the tenant and pet have moved out. This includes cleaning the carpets, curtains and soft furnishings. Cleaning a property at the end of a tenancy is normally done as standard so landlords and letting agencies should not have to take any extra steps to ensure it is suitable for a subsequent tenant with allergies.

The property will be infested with fleas and it will be impossible to get rid of them

Responsible pet owners will ensure that their pets are regularly treated for fleas to prevent a flea infestation. However, cats and dogs may get fleas at some point during their lives. Flea infestations should be treated immediately by getting veterinary treatment for the animal and treating the property with a flea spray that kills the flea eggs as well as the fleas. Landlords may also consider asking tenants for a non-refundable pet payment to pay for the property to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy. Again, you should ensure that the cleaning company uses chemicals that kill the fleas and their eggs to ensure that the fleas are completely eradicated. It’s good practice to provide the tenant with a written estimate for professionally cleaning the property so that they know the payment is fair.

Responsible pet owners will ensure that their pets are regularly treated for fleas to prevent a flea infestation. However, cats and dogs may get fleas at some point during their lives. Flea infestations should be treated immediately by getting veterinary treatment for the animal and treating the property with a flea spray that kills the flea eggs as well as the fleas. Landlords may also consider asking tenants for a non-refundable pet payment to pay for the property to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy. Again, you should ensure that the cleaning company uses chemicals that kill the fleas and their eggs to ensure that the fleas are completely eradicated. It’s good practice to provide the tenant with a written estimate for professionally cleaning the property so that they know the payment is fair.