Meanwhile,Cats Protection says that last year it took in around 1,300 cats – the equivalent of at least three cats each day – due to landlords not allowing them in their properties, making it the eighth most-cited reason as to why cats are given up to the charity.
The charities says that currently there are no legal rights for renters with pets, and landlords can refuse to rent to tenants with pets.
The government updated its Model Tenancy Agreement in 2021 to remove blanket bans on pets from the standard contract. Under this agreement, any restrictions on pet ownership must be ‘reasonable’; however, there is no legal requirement for landlords to use this tenancy template.
The government has outlined plans to introduce better protection for tenants as part of its Renters Reform Bill, due to be put forward to Parliament at some point this year. Draft policies detailed in a White Paper published last year included giving tenants the right to request a pet in the property which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.
According to research conducted in 2021 by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection, landlords are split on whether they allow pets.
Some 46 per cent say they allow pets. However, the number of tenants saying their tenancy allows pets is much lower than this with just 30 per cent saying their landlord would allow a dog in the property and 32 per cent saying cats are permitted.
The same research revealed that, in over a third of cases where cats or dogs have not been allowed by a private landlord, the landlord did not proactively decide this based on the individual tenants or pets, but either followed advice or used a standard template.
The charities, in a statement, say pets have a positive impact on the quality of life and mental health of their owners. Some 98 per cent of tenants say their dog has some form of positive impact on their life, and 94 per cent say the same about their cats.
The statement adds: “Allowing pets in rental properties could be advantageous to landlords. Allowing pets could increase the amount of time tenants choose to rent a property. Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found that 26 per cent of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.”
Paula Boyden, veterinary director of Dogs Trust, says: “2022 was the busiest year in our history for relinquishment enquiries. Sadly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed in to our rehoming centres is due to a change in the owner’s living circumstances and a lack of available pet-friendly accommodation.
“For most dog owners, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from a family member, so the introduction of new protection for renters will help ensure that fewer owners are forced to make the heart-breaking decision to give up their beloved pets.
“We are pleased to see that the Government has plans to include pet-friendly policies in its Renters Reform Bill, and hope to see these rights enshrined into law soon so that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, but open to renters as well.”
And Madison Rogers, head of advocacy and government relations for Cats Protection, adds: “Pet ownership should not be a privilege in modern society and Cats Protection is urging the Government to move forward with planned legislation to end blanket ‘no pets’ policies and give renters with pets better protections.
“In the meantime, there are a few things renters looking for a pet-friendly property can do: start looking for pet-friendly housing early, proactively ask letting agents or landlords if they allow pets even if it says ‘no pets’ on the advert and create a Pet CV outlining the measures you will take to be a responsible pet owner, such as providing veterinary records and details of your pet’s behaviours.”
To increase the availability of pet friendly properties, Dogs Trust has been providing advice and resources to pet owners, landlords and letting agencies for more than a decade through its Lets with Pets scheme. Cats Protection also operates its Purr-fect Landlords programme, which provides advice to tenants, landlords and social housing providers on how to conduct discussions aimed at keeping cats in rented properties.
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I don’t mind tenants having 5 cats, 2 dogs, rabbits and even a pet snake and I don’t believe that they would cause any damage to my second story apartment.
The fact that they ignore the other side of the argument just shows it isn't even worth having a debate about it.
Unfortunately until Gove sorts out the Leasehold issue, there will be thousands of properties whose leases prevent the keeping of pets,
Why unfortunately?
Pets should not be allowed in high rise flats ever.
Top floor of a high rise block , perfect for 101 Dalmatians
I always s ask myself if I need o go through with all these C R A P? I did not work hard all my life to be controlled by, not being disrespectful, but tenants? Property prices for the last two years have gone up by more than 20%. That is my capital gains. I am moving all my investments to the East. In future there will be more, regulations and taxes, which inevitably end up losing the control of my assets. For these reasons, I am out.
Fortunately those in power have brought about a situation in which landlords get a good number of applicants, and while they may not in future be allowed to say no pets - they can still choose who they think will look after the property best, or pose the lowest risk of damage.
it doesn't stop an existing Tenant wanting to get an animal though
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for landlords to refuse assistance dogs in rental properties, even if a landlord claims to operate a 'no pets rule' .
If a tenant is disabled, requiring an assistance dog that a landlord refuses, the landlord is acting unlawfully by failing to provide 'reasonable adjustment'
My house my rules. I am prepared to consider. It depends on tenant and type of pet. It is difficult for a tenant to prove they are responsible. There are too many irresponsible pet owners out there as demonstrated by the number of animals being given up. You dont hand back children when times are tough. People dont think about the long term issues. Two working people in my opinion shouldnt have a dog and therefore dogs are not acceptable!
"Landlords forced to provide pet allowance funding". Following recent legislative changes, charities are lobbying for government to introduce further legislation to provide a legal entitlement to a weekly pet allowance. "Our research shows that folks are definitely happier when they are spending someone else's cash" a leading charity spokesperson said. "The trouble is that one-off acts of kindness are not enough - happiness levels can only be sustained with regular infusions of someone else's cash".
Presumably all pets will be entitled to go in any building.. Great I'll be taking my 6 month old puppy next time I visit that nice restaurant in my village with the no dogs allowed sign.
This whole thing is irrelevant anyway, cos there will be no houses to rent soon. This governments anti business attitude with pricing controls, unfair contract terms and punative tax rules means we are all selling up. Won't just be people wanting to rent with pets no being able to find anywhere, no one will be able to find anywhere.
Of course there is no restriction on how much deposit is asked for. 12 months rent if have a pet.
Max we can legally ask for in Scotland is one and a half times the rent.
Max 5 weeks in England?
I'm one of the 46% of landlords who does allow pets. But only in 2 of my properties. So around 12% of my tenants live with a pet.
The other properties are either leasehold flats with leases that expressly prohibit pets or are student houses or HMOs.
Several of my tenants have experienced living next door to properties that contain bored or distressed dogs. Listening to someone else's dog howling or barking for hour after hour while the irresponsible owner is at work is horrendous but far too common.
The vast majority of rental properties are either flats or terraced houses with neighbours living in very close proximity. They should have the right to quiet enjoyment of their homes.
Never again!
As pet owner/lovers ourselves, then footing a 15+ K bill, that included stinking floorboards replaced: no chance / never again.
Having looked at all proposals, mostly from those who haven't got a f'ing clue - no matter which way this is/can be done: there is truly no way a landlord will be able to recoup 100% of damages when it does go wrong.
As we chased every possible angle and decided if only tarnishing their name was it - then so be it!
Yet, the feckless do not care :-(
Are two of the leading animal welfare organisations also adding to these proposals that they are making available funds and volunteers to assist in the cleaning up and repairs required when irresponsible owners allow their pets to do what they like without any consideration for the landlord?? Or assist with the huge deposits that should be allowed to cover the costs?? I doubt it.
Diane, you’re talking about people who make demands of others taking responsibility for something themselves - that may be the norm somewhere, but not this planet.
The great thing about being virtuous these days, is you can achieve it by demanding everyone else does and pays for everything without actually having to do anything yourself, or spend even one pound of your own money.
Introduction.
With current and future governments proposing to introduce some form of Tenants reform Bill I feel that a very important point is possibly going to slip under the radar. The main talking point is Section 21 and rightfully so, however some of the implications can be prevented if the Landlords business plan is correct, i.e. rent in advance, Guarantors, regular inspections etc. The point on enforcing Landlords to accept pets could be if we are not careful even more damaging and cost us all in time, money, and resources!
Below I have brainstormed my thoughts on some of the problems with being forced to allow pets, there will be those within the industry who read the content and belittle it as they know better, however my objective is to get Landlords talking about the topic before it is too late!
Landlords and pets.
1. Landlords are a business not a charity, full utilisation to properties is our objective, any distraction preventing this being met is unacceptable, this includes working for nothing by searching for tradesmen, handling insurance claims, and downtime when the property is without a paying Tenant.
2. For a landlord who does not want to allow pets, there is no foreseen benefit permitting a Tenant to have a pet in their property. There is only extra “wear and tear”, extra time organising replacement carpets etc, Tradesmen, Insurance claims, Deposit disputes, i.e., absolutely no benefits.
3. Damage to interior of house, skirting boards, doorways, doors, requiring repairing painting etc, problems, deposit, insurance, betterment, “wear and tear”, Tenant leaves and Landlord left to resolve the problems, whilst losing money on rental and time finding tradesmen.
4. Flees, pee, excrement etc in carpet curtains and soft furnishings, only way to completely remove would be replacement, who pays? Insurance Company, Deposit, then disputes on betterment etc.
5. Damage to garden, lawns garden beds, this will take time and specialist trades people to repair, unacceptable presentation for new Tenants which could be used as a reason to pay reduced rent.
6. Smell inside house, in carpets, curtains etc, where should the compensation be proportioned and who pays for the Landlords time and resources, only total replacement will resolve these problems, who pays and compensation landlord for time and losses?
7. Clawing carpets, thereafter, dispute on “wear and tear” deposit, or Insurance claim, then the argument on proportioning betterment.
8. Extra down time between Tenants due to insurance claim process, repairs, and cleaning, who will compensate for this time?
9. Pet hair throughout house, normal “professional cleaning” cannot guarantee to fully remove all hair, problem, where does the Landlord seek the extra to ensure complete cleaning, the Deposit, or the Insurance and who pays for their time?
10. Informing future Tenants that pets were housed previously, Allergies, Asthma, and other breathing aliments, reduced marketplace, reduced rental income etc.
11. Noise nuisance to neighbours and pets using their gardens a Toilets.
12. Insufficient insurance as purchased by Tenant, cheapness!
13. Delay in reletting due to Insurance claim and agreeing with Assessors on cost of compensation for damage.
14. Loss of rental income, interest etc waiting for payment from any insurer and who pays the difference.
15. Time finding Tradesmen tot carryout rectification work, who pays?
16. Pets being left in house, alone all-day uncontrolled damage.
17. Deposit is not sufficient to cover potential damage, loss recovery and to compensate for time to seek, research and organise replacement goods, Tradesmen to repair, fit or install.
18. How is it possible to the Tenant to insure something they do not own?
19. Who sets the level of cover for the insurance policy, Government. Shelter, Landlords and who is the arbiter on such cover?
20. Pet Insurance which is paid for by Tenant will be the cheapest possible and will not fully indemnify the Landlord.
21. Insurance practices by nature of their business will make all endeavours to mitigate their losses, therefore in a claim situation they will require multiple quotes, examine damage, and then decide price for compensation. This price will usually be less than the cost to fully indemnify the Landlord and will not include compensation for time spent finding Tradesmen, shopping etc and loss of rental income.
22. A further major problem is the “grey area” between claiming on either the Deposit or the Insurance.
23. If Landlord is not fully indemnified, can they take the Tenant to court?
24. If a Tenant signs a contract which states no pets, is it not a breach of contract for them to house a pet? If this is the case then the entire contract is null and void
25. What are the punitive penalties that can be bestowed onto a landlord?
26. If the Government whatever colour wants to house pets, why don’t they buy their own properties?
27. If Landlords had an association that would represent the majority and be a force to be reckoned with, as Shelter is to the Tenants, we would be able to shape current and future legislation.
Conclusion
Unless we as Landlords can be 100% guaranteed that we will suffer no financial losses or wasted time we will not permit pets in our properties.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for landlords to refuse assistance dogs in rental properties, even if a landlord claims to operate a 'no pets rule' .
If a tenant is disabled, requiring an assistance dog that a landlord refuses, the landlord is acting unlawfully by failing to provide 'reasonable adjustment'
There is also no official register so good luck at refusing and if someone applied for the property and you refused and it was thought to be because of that reason then I'd be expecting legal action coming your way
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for landlords to refuse assistance dogs in rental properties, even if a landlord claims to operate a 'no pets rule' .
If a tenant is disabled, requiring an assistance dog that a landlord refuses, the landlord is acting unlawfully by failing to provide 'reasonable adjustment'
There isn't an official register in the UK to check against so you be buggered if u refuse
Long read BUT totally agree with you . David
Section 21 must be retained the very foundation of all private lettings did you not know the multi million pound business didn’t exist before.
Pets can bite mind your varicose veins, or kill a child.
I'm one of the few that will 'consider' a tenant with a pet , no big or what I consider to be dangerous dogs and only in houses with a garden, I also charge a 'pet rent', my properties, my rules.
Many humans are allergic to animal hair and human rights always trump animal rights.
It has to be the Landlord's choice. I have 2 tenants with dogs, both properties have large gardens and a secure fence. To the best of my knowledge the dogs have not caused any issues. Of course the risk goes up and as such, like others here, there is a small increase in rent to allow for this. But importantly, this is my choice and my risk to take.
This will be just another reason why Landlord's will leave this sector.
Does anyone know if there is a “Landlord Protection” Charity?
PS … I’m a massive animal lover but both sides need to be considered here.
I am not anti animal. I like animals but you need a proper place for them and certainly not in Flats or HMO’s.
I particularly like chocolate coloured pure bred Labradors.
No, a cocker or a springer for me, they make the best gun dogs
Andrew Townshend - we have cockers - I knew there was a reason I thought you were a good sort :)
In our early 20's, when we knew much better than our elders, we had a black Labrador but when we were both at work, it ate a sofa, a door and a plaster board wall.
Fortunately we managed to re-home it with a retired couple. We realised then how much of a responsibility keeping a pet was and haven't repeated the process.
PS. Do chocolate labradors taste more like chocolate than other dogs?
I’ve got one with a battery up his doo dah from Amazon
Just like a real dog , but no poo etc
I accept pets at my discretion and under my terms only.
I will not accept any third party trying to control what I do with my hard won assets.
I am a happy dog owner but I won’t be forced to accept any old mutt for anybody.
It’s a brazen ignorant organisation that believes they can walk over anybody’s asset and steal control.
I allowed a cat in the last tenancy, the first time ever. The property was furnished. now I discover on vacating that the two leather sofas have been used as a cat scratching post, on all the corners. Problem is the sofas while looking completely decent and being still comfortable where over 10 years old. Leather looks good for many years. so now I find i may not be able to claim anything meaningful against the cost of replacing old sofas. but I still need to replace them so i loose money. I am an animal lover but what benefit is there for me to accept pets?
If I let a property furnished I would not allow pets
Martin, this is becoming very uncanny. We bought to rent for the first time last year, redecorated myself, new carpets etc Agents are brilliant and found a professional female young couple here in Eastbourne and all began well. We allowed an expensive Bengal cat that isn't really an issue but the non ventilation all day every day, wet washing, two major water leaks in mid winter are now creating a mushroom farm inside. They insist the dampness and black mould is a fault of the flat, it's not. The flooded concrete will likely still be drying out and nowhere to go except condense on cold surfaces. Anthony
IMO there is a difference between a family renting a house as their long term home where they want to build a life & put down roots & those who are only in a rental 'temporarily'. 'Forever Renters' should be allowed pets as they are the ones who will have to put up with any extra distress to the property the pet causes.
Those who are renting 'temporarily' before either buying or finding a 'forever rental' are probably out at work all day, so an unsuitable environment for dogs, or saving hard for the next step in their life, pets are expensive, or only hoping to be in a particular proper short term. The cost to the LL or having a pet in a property usually diminishes over time so these short term renters are least likely to be allowed a pet in one of my properties.
There has to be common sense here and forcing LLs to accept pets will only end up with more being abandoned when the owners move on to something else - look at what happened during & after covid.
As a pet lover I am as concerned for the quality of life of the pat as I am for the preservation of my asset!
How do you know if a prospective tenant is going to be long term?
Plans change.
How long is temporary?
Mostly by age - youngsters are usually temporary, families more long term. I agree it is not foolproof so I don't allow pets until tenants have been in for a year & shown they pay on time & look after the property,
Its just plain wrong forcing owners to have pets against their wishes.
Tricia my friend I don’t want anyone putting down roots In my property. It’s not my responsibility to supply them with a permanent home.
Its there look out who ever gave me anything for noute.
They have to take responsibility for their lives.
I agree - but there are those that do.
Your plain disgusting, Id love to hear you've lost your properties and have to rent and end up with a land lord like you you your attitude towards people is sickening and you give decent landlords a bad name.
And no one gave them anything for nothing they pay you an over inflated rent you should appreciate the people who keep in a decent standard of living with out them your nobody
Two of the UK’s highest profile animal welfare organisations want the government to introduce better protection for responsible tenants with pets.
Thats fine and I'm intrigued as to how legislation will cover the responsible types whilst barring the others.
All great and pertinent comments above.
If the tenant is sharing a house with other tenants their lives are not sufficiently stable to take on te responsibility of a pet, therefore, they are not responsible tenants with pets. Also, if the property has no access to a large secure garden the place is unsuitable to pets. Furthermore, sometimes I think I am running a nursery for my tenants. I don't want to wind up running a zoo for abandoned pets, as I once had a cat abandoned at my house, and I had to arrange its rehoming, after of course having to put right the damage to the pee-soaked carpets and clawed doors.
Sorry to say this but most native tenants in England are not responsible for themselves, never mind a pet. Foreigners are more responsible than Brits.
I certainly agree your last sentence
Andrew
I seem to remember an earlier post about you finding a rottweiler driving an unlicensed abandoned car whilst the owner of both was in prison?
Had you agreed for the rottweiler to stay in your property?
No Robert I had not agreed to that Rottweiler, it appeared without permission as some dogs do, I would never agree to a thing like that
Perhaps thats why it was driving the car?
Get away driver Robert
Suzy
I had a nice polish lady breed dangerous dogs iny property! Cannabis farms seem to have a Vietnamese gardener in the property, although Albanians now seem to be coming along, nicely !
Letting Agent average properties available for Let in 2019 = 30, now 15 !
Can't think of a better time for Tenants to campaign for less properties - not more !
Why? Why should landlords allow domesticated farm animals to stay in their property?
Anyone who keeps a meat-eating 'pet' is NOT an animal lover.
They are selfish, hypocritical children. I WANT a dog! I DON'T CARE what it eats.
I WANT a cat! I DON'T CARE if it eats half the garden birds and defecates on my neighbour's gravel drive.
I will NOT let domesticated animals in my property. EVER. For ANY reason apart from a assistant guide dog for the blind.
NOT 'hearing' dogs (I'M profoundly deaf!)
Not 'companions' for the mentally disabled.
A pet is NOT a human right.
It is a selfish, cruel and unnecessary hobby.
Until WE stop eating meat AND stop feeding it to our 'pets' we'll never solve climate problems.
Fair enough, your opinion, personally I have dogs, shoot and eat meat, each to their own
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for landlords to refuse assistance dogs in rental properties, even if a landlord claims to operate a 'no pets rule' If a tenant is disabled, requiring an assistance dog that a landlord refuses, the landlord is acting unlawfully by failing to provide 'reasonable adjustment'
Oh and FYI there isn't a register to check against or ID number.
Just saying
I have done all that when I lived in the Country cocker spaniel to rise Cockpheasants for the table, Jack Russel to root out the foxes I killed 17 in a week one time there was a bounty on them from sheep breeders association’s. Collie to round up the sheep, working dogs, ferrets with muzzles to scratch out wild rabbits I used captured them by the dozen, yes we used to eat them that’s life. People now gets upset about this kind of thing but it was survival. Those same people queue up for Mc’ burgers.
My son trained and was a game keeper, so we know all about that Michael, I have no problem with veggies or vegans , but don't tell me what I should or should not be doing that's my business
Just about to go into my son's rental after tenant leaves next week and am dreading it. She's kindly said she'll forfeit the £400 deposit to cover;
Kitchen cupboards eaten away.
New carpets now black and stinking.
Wall papers clawed to shreds
Garden full of poo.
Totally agree, pets are not a human right...bit like kids really, don't you wait till you can afford the time and money to care for them????
I should be reporting her to the RSPCA because animals only wreck houses when left alone!!! Anyone know if I can use small claims court as deposit is so small in comparison with damage inflicted???
Get quotes to fix everything and then give her an invoice. If it's not paid, sue the guarantors or sue the tenants. The ccj will screw them up for six years if they don't settle up promptly.
PS. Firstly make sure that they don't have access to a team of heavies. I think it's outrageous that a landlord's home address must be public knowledge when it potentially puts family in harm's way.
I agree with Robert, don't let this woman off , go for it, money claim on line, dead easy to do and not expensive and I wouldn't worry about the heavies they are normally all huff and puff, and hot air
Poachers were trained to, especially for getting salmon the trick was to follow the game keeper maybe a mile up the track so you know exactly where he is, then double back quickly and collect your prize.
I thought we were just inept landlords, we’d survive in the wild and without housing benefits.
Road kill is another source of free food
Government/councils need to invest in properties for pet owners and homeless people and experience the issues the landlords suffer. I have no problems with pet owners but each time, the carpets have been scratched to nothing, excrement (germs, pests etc) walls damaged, rubbish left by them and the smells are difficult to get rid off for future tenants. Not every succeeding tenants love pets and landlords should not have to put up with pets as the government is not there to pay for any issues that the tenants with pets cause. All pet issues need to be resolved by pet owners but they never do. The pet charities are only concerned about themselves. Then they should close down. The people are taking pets because they cannot look after them. Pet charities, council and government should not have the power to tell landlords who they should rent the house to. I have had a lot of complaints from succeeding tenants about the previous tenants pets. It does not bother me as a landlord but other tenants who do not have pets have to be considered as well. Charities are only looking at their selfish point of view. Flats never allow the pets, so the government first needs to work on those first. I have a dog and she has been fully trained from when I first got her at 9 weeks, but I cannot say the same for other tenants dogs, who also breed and they say that it was an accident. They did not know that they were not neutered. They sell them all and get another dog and it continues. When you complain to the council, the tenant says it was one off accident. It is a nightmare for the landlords. This is not for landlords for council needs expert people and they should deal with these issues.
And there was me thinking they wanted to House the Homeless but its an animal sanctuary they want us to have.
Try Battersea.
Responsible landlords you are looking for a landlord Charity, look no further you have come to the right place.
We are all Landlord Charity’s now officially Registered under HMO licensing Schemes.
Hello, Everyone, not sure where I should have entered this message so just put it here for FYI.
After watching the 1pm BBC lunchtime news about a family being evicted by her landlord I wrote to BBC Newswatch with the following observation -
1pm news 9/2/23. Report concerning a single mother and four children being evicted from their ‘home’ after 14 years.
I feel this was a poorly presented and totally one sided version of this report.
Questions should have been asked why is the landlord selling up after this time.
Is it because of the continued attack on landlords with changes of the law, loss of Sec 21, compulsory registration schemes (which are just an excuse for local councils to raise money for nothing), the cost of living rises and not to forget loss of rental income when tenant’s fail to pay their rent.
Just investigate why so many landlords are selling up and then deliver a fairer and even report instead of making out that it’s all the landlords fault and they are the bad people.
David Wright
Landlord
Exactly David, there's 2 sides to every story isn't there, however the left wing BBC chose to tell just the 1 side that suits them
David you said a Mother and 4 Children where is the Dad or Daddies.
Has she been kept and Housed by the tax payers for 14 years incl’ Housing Children allowance, Schooling, nursery etc, did the Program not give the background to the case.
There are 2.9m single parents how many on the system or is it all ?.
I see a young lady with a child renting a few doors away from her dad who is living in his own house with 2 storey side extension added all by himself, some nonsense going on, she wouldn’t get all the goodies if she was lived at home.
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