Date Posted: 09/02/17
It is estimated that 35% + of the population currently own a pet and almost 5 million people live in privately rented accommodation in the UK. Yet many landlords will still not rent their properties to tenants with pets. Deciding whether or not to accept pets in your property can seem like a big decision, particularly if you have little experience of pets yourself. But it’s something that you should carefully consider as so many people own a pet. Opening your property up to tenants with pets will maximise its rental potential. By excluding pet owners you are likely to be missing out on a huge chunk of the rental market. By accepting tenants with pets you can: Increase demand for your property – with so few properties on the market that accept tenants with pets, your property will be in high demand. Pet-friendly properties are much sought after and normally won’t be vacant for long.
By accepting tenants with pets you can:
Increase demand for your property - with so few properties on the market that accept pets, your property will be in high demand. Pet-friendly properties are much more sought after and normally won't be vacant for long. Encourage tenants to stay for longer - pet owners know how difficult it is to find rented accommodation that allows pets so the are more likely to stay longer than tenants with no pets. Attract responsible tenants - responsible pet owners often make the most responsible tenants.
Once you have made the decision to accept tenants with pets in your property, there are a few simple steps that you should take to ensure that the tenancy runs as smoothly as possible.
Step 1:
If you own a leasehold property you should check that your lease does allow pets in the property.
Step 2:
Once you have given permission for a tenant to keep a pet in your property, you should include a pet policy clause in your standard tenancy agreement that refers specifically to the keeping of pets.
Step 3:
If you are concerned about pets causing damage to the property or furnishing, you can ask for a higher deposit or a specific pet payment.
