Pets in Properties
What does the Renters Reform Bill say about Pets?
The Bill will set in place the opportunity for tenants to request to have a pet within the property.
Landlords must give the request reasonable consideration; this will be on a case-by-case basis. If a landlord refuses, tenants can escalate the matter if they believe that their landlord has been unfair, and tenants will have access to the Landlord Ombudsman as well as the First Tier Tribunal (FTT).
The view of all the animal centric organisations is that this Bill will be revolutionary for tenants who own pets because large numbers of animals are given up to the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, and Cat Protection every year due to landlords not allowing pets in their properties. For example, the Cat Protection League received 1,300 cats last year, from people who couldn’t keep them due to issues with private rented and social housing.
RSCPA, Dog’s Trust and Cat Protection perspective and comments on the new Renters Reform Bill
These three organisations set out some guidelines of what tenants should potentially think of doing if they have the opportunity to rent a property with their pet in the future.
Look for rented accommodation early and see if pets are allowed
Create a CV for your pet which shows the pet’s name, age, sex, whether it has been neutered and vaccinated. Describe the animal’s personality, and how the pet has been trained.
Provide contact details of your vet and pet records as proof of their medical history
Ask for a reference from a previous landlord where applicable
Introduce the pet to the landlord so the landlord has the opportunity to judge the character of the pet
Getting written permission from your landlord will help prevent in the future regarding a tenancy agreement
Start a conversation with your future landlord as early as possible, keeping your options open.
Do not sneak in your pets without your landlord knowing, this creates a distrustful relationship. Be honest about your pets from the get-go.
These organisations are putting their best foot forward to assist tenants with their pets, by giving advice and allowing the potential transition of the Bill to be smoother.
Currently the percentage of landlords allowing dogs in rented property is around 30% and cats around 32% and possibly, the Renter's Reform Bill will see these numbers increase. This means that there will be a larger number of properties available to pet owners, tenants remaining in properties for longer periods of time and preventing them from having to go through the heartbreak of giving up their pet.
However, it is important to understand that the Bill does make reference to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 which will be amended and the fact that tenants with pets will have to have an insurance that is specifically to protect against the pet causing damage. Landlords who are leaseholders will always have to seek consent from their freeholder to have a pet in the property.
As we await the next reading of the Renters Reform Bill it is likely that further amendments will be made.
For further information - Dogs Trust – https://www.letswithpets.org.uk
Cat protection: Purrfect Landlords - https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning/purrfectlandlords
Blog researched by Alyssia Sableski – Intern at the Guild of Letting & Management