How Hestia is helping to make pet-friendly renting easier and fairer for landlords and tenants.
With more people renting, and for longer, there is an increasing demand for pet-friendly lets.
This has led to the Government calling on landlords to allow tenants to have ‘well behaved’ pets in their homes. So, we’ve put together this guide on renting with pets.
Updated tenancy contract
Why are landlords reluctant to permit pets?
What are the pros of and cons of allowing pets?
How Hestia can help you benefit from being pet friendly
Updated tenancy contract
In January, Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP said: “I’m overhauling our model tenancy contract to encourage more landlords to consider opening their doors to responsible pet owners.” The current model tenancy agreements, used to issue tenancy agreements, will be revised and published later this year. However, there’s no legal requirement to use it and landlords have the right to refuse tenants with pets.
Why are landlords reluctant to permit pets?
We’ve found the main reason for landlords not allowing pets is the additional cost of cleaning or repairs required because of the pet. Especially as landlords can no take a higher security deposit to cover the cost (now capped at a maximum of five weeks rent).
Also, not all rental properties are suitable for pets – it might be on the second floor or in a leasehold block with restrictions, for instance.
What are the pros of and cons of allowing pets?
There are advantages and disadvantages to consider before accepting pets in a rental property:
Pros
- Wider pool of prospective tenants
- Extra income from a pet rent
- Reduced voids with longer term tenants
- Reduce voids by finding new tenants faster
Cons
- Risk of damage and unwelcome odours
- Potential noise or nuisance complaints
- Allergens or fleas affecting subsequent tenants
How Hestia can help you benefit from being pet friendly
Being pet-friendly doesn’t mean you have to accept any pet. You can choose the type of pet that will be suitable for your property and stipulate the pet owner’s obligations.
Here are four specific ways we can help you to have peace of mind from allowing pets.
- PET RENT
Pet rent is becoming increasingly popular. It’s an additional rent the tenant pays for their pet or pets. Typically, this is £50 a month for each animal. However, the rent you charge could vary depending on the type and number of pets.
- PETS CLAUSE
It is important have a carefully worded special pet clause in your tenancy agreement. This will detail what the pet owner’s responsibilities are. You need to make the rules on keeping a pet in your property clear and unambiguous. Phrases such as ‘well behaved’ and ‘good clean condition’ are too vague and open to interpretation. Be specific.
- REGULAR INSPECTIONS
During the tenancy we carry out inspections every four months to make sure the pet is being looked after responsibly and not causing any problems or damage to the property.
- PET REFERENCE
- Ask to see up to date veterinary vaccination and treatment records
- Assess the suitability of the pet for your property
- Are they a responsible pet owner? Is the pet well-behaved?
- Get a pet reference from a previous landlord
- Get the contact details of someone who will look after the pet in an emergency
- Find out how long a pet is likely to be left at home alone
With careful checks like these, and the additional strategies in place, the risk of a tenant with a pet being a problem are greatly reduced.
Expert advice on pet-friendly rentals
If you’re considering whether to accept tenants with pets, we can help to make the process as risk free and beneficial as possible.
