A guide to renting with pets

It’s no secret that when a landlord is renting out their property, they are only looking to accept tenant(s) which they believe will cause them as little hassle as possible. Sadly, for pet owners, landlords are aware that many pets are hard to maintain and so they believe that their property is more likely to be left in a bad state compared to tenants without this commitment. 

Although the majority of property listings state ‘no pets allowed’, there is no harm in asking to see whether the landlord may reconsider if the conditions are suited to both parties. 

Check out our tips that can help you navigate your way through the renting process with pets…

1. References

Just like on a job CV, previous and/or current landlord references are going to help you show a new potential landlord that you can look after their property just as well with your pets present.

If you have a bigger animal, such as a cat or dog, it will be useful to ask your vet for written confirmation on vaccinations, age, breed and characteristics to show the overall behaviour of your pet. This may give some peace of mind to the landlord and can help prove that you are a good owner with good intentions. 

2. Additional fees

In some cases, the landlord may be happy to allow you in with pets if you are prepared to provide them with some extra security. 

In England, landlords are not permitted to request a higher tenancy deposit for renting with a pet, but instead can charge you extra rent for the addition of a pet. 

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the regular tenancy deposit, landlords can request an additional pet deposit to cover themselves against any potential damage caused by your pet at the end of the tenancy. The pet deposit will be returned at the end of the tenancy, just like your tenancy deposit, after the property has been checked and cleared for damages.

3. Allotment Act: Rabbits and Hens

“Under section 12 of the Allotments Act 1950, tenants can keep rabbits or hens provided they are not a nuisance or cause any health issues. You cannot keep them for business purposes, such as breeding or selling eggs, and so you should bring this to the attention of your landlord first.”

4. Property rules

If you have moved into a property that doesn’t accept pets, it is vital that you do not break your rental agreement and move in pets without the landlord knowing. The landlord will most likely have created a clause in your tenancy agreement that says you cannot keep pets and breaking this clause can be used as a ground for eviction. 

If a landlord does agree to pets in the home, there may be additional rules in the agreement in relation to keeping the property in a respectable condition. An example of this would be ensuring that any pet accidents inside and outside of the property are constantly being cleaned up.

If the property is not left in an acceptable state upon final checks with any damage to the property or extra cleaning that the landlord can prove needs carrying out, will be deducted from your tenancy deposit, so be sure to follow the terms of your agreement.

Placebuzz wishes you luck in your property search!