You are a private landlord. So many times, estate agents ask you if you will accept pets. You are not sure. You have heard of bad experiences. The building allows pets or you own the freehold so there is no issue to letting with pets. You are just not sure. Will the furniture be ruined, will the place ‘smell’ of pet and what about allergies for future tenants. I can’t even ask for more than 5 weeks’ rent as a deposit. All very complicated, yet more than 50 % of ‘generation rent’ own a pet. They are their ‘four-legged children’.
If as a landlord you are considering letting your property to tenants with pets, try a small dog or a house cat first if that makes you feel more comfortable. When renting to tenants with or without pets, there is always a degree of wear and tear. You can offset 10% against tax.
At Pets Lets, we work with tenants with pets. We see how happy pet owners are when we find them a rental. They appreciate pet friendly landlords and look after the property. They tend to stay longer. Nobody with a dog or cat wants the stress of moving again if they are happy. A happy tenant means a happy landlord.
References only really say the tenant has sufficient earnings or savings to pay the rent. You have no idea about character and social behaviour. ‘Touch wood’, never had a problem letting my own properties to pet owners.
You cannot ignore the number of tenants now with pets. As a landlord you must get regular enquiries from pet owners. Unless the building has a no pets clause, have you not considered letting your property to a tenant with a dog or cat?
Perfect tenant profile single person, good income, glowing previous landlord reference and that includes their small dog, what more proof do you need they are responsible? With sharers for example, the wear and tear tends to be more severe and how much will they look after the property?
As mentioned earlier, pet friendly properties are hard to come by so they are valued and will stay longer. Their pet is part of the family, so they will be happy to forgo any ‘luxuries’ other tenants may ask for.
In any rental agreement you can specify the agreed pets in the pet’s clause, which can be amended, subject to agreement, with any changes in pet ownership.
Some tenants move into a property and then get a cat or dog when settled in. Nothing has been agreed about letting your property with a pet. The eviction process is a long one. They are paying the rent on time, there have been no complaints, yet as a landlord you are not in complete control.
If there is a no pets policy in the building, then that is a different matter as you would be under pressure from the management company to sort it out.
Better to have it all clarified about letting with pets at the very beginning.
Pets Lets is about educating and advising landlords about renting with pets. Click on our Landlords Guide for some useful information
The Lets with Pets Scheme run by Dogs Trust id another great source of information for landlords who are unsure about letting their property to someone with a pet.
Open Rent is a popular private landlord website where you can upload your properties. Here are some tips about considering renting to people with pets.
Pets Lets is just like Open Rent where you can upload your own properties. We are of course new and growing. However, our focus is very much on pets & property and a growing number of estate agents are listing their pet friendly rentals with us and getting regular leads.
We also provide pet owners with information about renting properties with pets and working with landlords to say yes to their dog or cat.
A growing number of pet companies are listing with us and we relocate clients from around the world with their pets to the UK.
At Pets Lets, we are encouraging landlords to consider pets. Even a small dog or a house cat. You can mix & match properties, whether it is a long, short of holiday let. The first month is free and you can list up to 3 properties. Agents listing with us are getting regular leads. Why not give it a go.
This article was written by Russell Hunt, Founder of Pets Lets, the UK’s pet-friendly property portal where landlords will consider pets. We work with clients from around the world looking to relocate with their pets to the UK. A hub of information & where you can create your own pet cv. Passionate about pets & property.
You are a private landlord. So many times, estate agents ask you if you will accept pets. You are not sure. You have heard of bad experiences. The building allows pets or you own the freehold so there is no issue to letting with pets. You are just not sure. Will the furniture be ruined, …
A landlords guide to the benefits of letting to tenants with pets Read More »
Lets with pets, part of Dogs Trust offers good advice to pet owners and landlords looking at the benefits of renting to people with pets. More landlords need to consider letting with pets. That takes time and landlords need to be educated about the merits. Yes you can take a reference, but at the end …
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At Pets Lets we are all about promoting people living with pets in London. We list and find pet friendly London properties, offer advice pets clauses, pet friendly London locations as well as the Pets Lets Information Hub, a means of ‘accessing the social life of a London dog’. As relocation agents, we spend lots …
Be ahead of other Landlords. Open your doors to people with pets. Nearly 50% of the UK are pet owners and only 10% of London Landlords allow dogs. A Huge Opportunity as dog and cat owners stay longer and are responsible. The Tenant Fees Act brought in 1st June 2019, has had the reverse effect …
Part of Pets Lets Limited, a company registered in England and Wales Number 11944760
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