Your Guide To Lets With Pets

Every landlord wants to minimise the risk of damage to the properties they’ve invested in, and one of the methods of mitigating this possibility that many landlords use is placing a blanket ban on potential tenants with pets. But could prohibiting pets be holding you back from making the most out of your properties? 

A blanket ban on pets is technically against the law as of 28th January 2021, however just 7% of landlords in the UK said they allow pets in their properties. Disproportionately, around 40% of households in the UK own a pet. In addition, 28% of renters would be prepared to pay £24 a month more for a property that allowed pets. This should be more than enough to cover the cost of any additional repairs or touch ups needed at the end of the tenancy, as well as adding pets onto your landlord insurance. The numbers speak for themselves – allowing pets in your properties can give you an advantage over most of the competition, open you up to more renters and increase your potential profits. 

Another thing to consider is the longevity of your tenants. Tenants are aware that landlords who allow pets are in both high demand and short supply, and so you may find that your tenants with pets place a higher value on their tenancy and stay longer. Allowing pets may start your tenancy on a positive note and set the tone for a long lasting, mutually beneficial tenant-landlord relationship. 

The first thing you need to look at is whether your freehold or lease actually allow pets. Leaseholds and old freeholds sometimes have restrictions, however more recent freeholds will typically be fine. If your lease has restrictions on pets you can consider asking the freeholder or leaseholder if they would be prepared to amend the terms of your lease. Make sure you get permission in writing before advertising your property as pet friendly. It may be wise to ask a property specialist or solicitor first just to double check the terms of your lease. 

If you do choose to allow pets in your properties, it’s important to keep in mind that they do present a risk, and you should take appropriate measures to mitigate this. You should also ensure that the property is suitable for a pet – it would be unethical to rent out a top floor studio flat to someone with a large dog, for example. 

It’s important to check the potential tenants’ pets just as you would check their suitability, so you may choose to arrange a time to meet the pet and see if you are comfortable with it living in your property. Just like tenants, all pets have unique personalities, and some are better tenants than others. The charity Dogs Trust recommend asking for a “pet reference” from the landlord of their last home. If they didn’t cause any irreparable damage to their last home, it’s highly unlikely that they will cause the mass destruction to your property that you may be expecting from a pet. If a pet reference from a landlord is unavailable, Dogs Trust recommend speaking to the pet’s veterinary surgeon, and asking if the pet is generally well behaved, if the potential tenants are responsible pet owners, and if they carry out routine preventative healthcare including vaccination and flea treatments. 

If renting to pet owners, it’s key that you include a pet clause in your tenancy agreement. The following pet clause, provided by Dogs Trust would suffice however you can amend this on the advice of a solicitor or property specialist to your individual needs: 

“It is further agreed between the Landlord and Tenant that the Landlord grants permission for the Tenant to keep a pet {insert animal type and breed} named {insert animal name} (“The Pet”) in The Property for the duration of the Tenancy. The Tenant agrees not to keep or permit to be kept on the Property any further pets or animals of any description without the previous consent in writing of the Landlord.” 

You may also want to carry out extra inspections if you’re concerned about pet damage. If the property is furnished, be sure to check for scratches, particularly on sofas, beds and any soft furnishings. Be sure to check the perimeter of the carpets as some dogs can be prone to digging this up. If you have any concerns be sure to raise this with your tenants early and come to some sort of agreement, for example asking the tenants to pay for repairs for any damage caused by pets or introduce preventative measures to stop any issues deteriorating. [Please note that the information above does not constitute legal advice and has been provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal advice you should contact a lawyer]