Posts Tagged ‘pets’

We previously looked at whether or not you’d consider letting a property to pet owners. If you’ve weighed up the pros and cons and decided that you’d like to give it a go, then here are five top tips for helping a tenancy to a pet owner go smoothly.

1. Check what pet it is

Before you agree to the tenancy, make sure you know exactly what pet, or pets, the tenants have. All pets have different needs and, ideally, you should decide on whether you’ll agree to the pet on a case by case basis. For example, small pets like goldfish or hamsters have very different needs and effects on a property than dogs or cats.

If a tenant has a particularly large type of dog or several pets, then it’s not out of the ordinary to ask to see the pets in advance so you can judge the situation properly.

2. Obtain a pet reference

It may sound a bit strange, but it’s honestly not that odd to ask for a reference for the pets. For example, the reference could come from a previous landlord who’s rented a property to the owners and pets, or from a vet.

As well as giving you reassurance that the pets will be well behaved, it’s also good to know that the pet owner is responsible and willing to cooperate to reassure you.

3. Get a pet policy clause

If you have tenants with pets, then you should insert a pet policy clause into your standard tenancy agreement. It needs to refer to keeping pets and should cover what pets are allowed or not.

4. Charge a pet deposit payment

All tenants should pay a damage deposit and, if there are pets involved and you’re worried that they could cause damage to a property, then you could add an extra deposit charge to cover this.

5. Do regular checks

If you’re still a bit nervous about letting your pride and joy to a pet owner and, especially if it’s an animal that could potentially cause damage, then you can check on the situation by doing regular landlord checks.

Just remember to keep your tenant fully informed as to when the checks will be and don’t turn up unannounced.

Pets or no pets? That’s the question facing many landlords these days as they decide whether or not they want to let their properties to tenants who have pets.

It’s not uncommon for landlords to specify that they don’t allow tenants to have pets. Some of the key reasons for not allowing animals are concerns about the property or furnishings being damaged, or worries about pets being noisy for neighbours. There’s also the issue that, where flats are concerned, pets such as dogs or cats are often impractical.

But many people do own pets and, according to research conducted by The Dogs Trust, 54% of pet owners are unable to find suitable rented accommodation due to landlords being wary of renting to them.

In the worst case scenario for landlords, tenants may ignore your wishes and smuggle pets in anyway. Not all pets are troublesome though and, if you’re finding it slow to let a property, then is it worth considering the potential benefits of a pet owner renting your property?

Benefits for landlords of letting property to pet owners

Although they may not seem obvious initially, there are some benefits to be had for landlords who allow tenants to have pets.

From a business and financial point of view, good properties that allow pets are often in demand and, as tenants have less of a choice available to them, they may be more likely to pay a higher rent for the right property.

It’s not just the inside of the property that matters to pet owners, but also the outside too. If there’s a garden, or the property is away from busy main roads, then it may be particularly suited for dog or cat owners.

Plus, as properties that allow pets are thin on the ground, existing tenants may be more likely to renew their tenancy, rather than having to worry about finding somewhere else suitable for their needs and their animals.

Before you take the plunge and decide pets are fine for your rental properties, don’t forget to double-check that it will be okay. For example, if you have a leasehold property, then you’ll need to ensure the lease does allow pets.