The head of an industry supplier claims that it’s clear pets cause less damage to rental properties than many tenants. 

Siân Hemming-Metcalfe of Inventory Base, urges landlords to think twice about banning pets.

She says: “While pets might seem like they could cause issues in rental properties, it’s becoming clear that their impact is often much smaller than the wear and tear from tenants themselves.

“ … It’s understandable why many prefer to keep pets out, reducing at least one potential worry. However, we’re finding that being pet-friendly can actually offer significant advantages for landlords.

“By welcoming pets, you not only attract a broader range of potential tenants, but you also encourage longer and more dependable tenancies. Pet owners are typically very mindful of their pets’ reputation for causing damage, so when it’s time to move out, they often leave the property in excellent condition to demonstrate that both they and their furry friends are responsible.

“Landlords who are open to tenants with well-behaved pets can minimise most financial risks by implementing a thorough inventory process.

“The main risks of allowing pets in rental homes arise when there isn’t a solid inventory process in place at both the start and end of each tenancy. Conducting a detailed inventory at the beginning of a pet-friendly tenancy, as well as regular property visits throughout the tenancy, ensures that any damage caused by tenants or their pets is properly accounted for.”

Hemming-Metcalfe says her research shows that as few as 2% of current rental listings in some major British cities are for pet-friendly properties. 

The research – which was restricted to 15 cities – shows that of the 65,826 rental properties currently listed on the market, just 4,688 are listed as being pet-friendly, equivalent to 7.1% of the market.

Landlords appear to be most open to pet ownership in Glasgow where 11.3% of all rentals are described as being pet-friendly. This is followed by Edinburgh (10.1%), Manchester (10%), and London (8.1%).

Meanwhile, the least pet-friendly landlords are found in Newcastle where just 2.1% of available stock is being marketed as pet-friendly.

This is followed by Nottingham (2.9%), Cardiff (2.9%), Leeds (3.2%), Leicester (3.4%), and Bristol (3.9%).

She claims that recent academic research shows pets cause an estimated £300 of damage to a property over the duration of a tenancy. However, she says the research goes on to show that the average damage caused by tenants without pets stands at £775 per tenancy – well over double the cost of pet-related damage.