As an update to our earlier article about Belvoir Dunstable joining the Lets with Pets scheme we have been surprised how many landlords will consider renting to responsible tenants once we have described the process to them.
it’s estimated that 48% of the population currently own a pet and almost five million people live in privately rented accommodation in the UK. Yet many landlords will still not rent their properties to tenants with pets.
Deciding whether or not to accept pets in your property can seem like a big decision, particularly if you have little experience of pets yourself. But it’s something that you should carefully consider as so many people own a pet.
Opening your property up to tenants with pets will maximise its rental potential. By excluding pet owners you are missing out on a huge chunk of the rental market.
By accepting tenants with pets you can:
Increase demand for your property – with so few properties on the market that accept tenants with pets, your property will be in high demand. Pet-friendly properties are sought after and normally won’t be vacant for long
Encourage tenants to stay for longer – pet owners know how difficult it is to find rented accommodation that allows pets so they are more likely to stay longer than those tenants with no pets
Attract responsible tenants – responsible pet owners often make the most responsible tenants.
Once you have made the decision to accept tenants with pets in your property, there are a few simple steps that you should take to ensure that the tenancy runs as smoothly as possible.
Speak to any prospective tenants about their pet before you decide whether to accept it. Every pet is different and you should make your decision on a case-by-case basis. In the case of dogs and cats, you may also wish to meet them first.
STEP 1
Ask prospective tenants to supply you with a written reference for their pet from a previous landlord or veterinarian whenever possible. This will help you to ensure that the tenant is a responsible pet owner and the pet is well behaved.
STEP 2
If you own a leasehold property you should check that your lease does allow pets in the property.
STEP 3
Once you have given permission for a tenant to keep a pet in your property, you should include a pet policy clause in your standard tenancy agreement that refers specifically to the keeping of pets.
STEP 4
If you are concerned about pets causing damage to the property or furnishings, you can ask for a higher deposit or a specific pet payment
Belvoir Dunstable will carry out all of these steps for you to ensure that both the Landlord and Tenant are happy that the tenancy will run smoothly and the property and pet are well cared for.
See also our Letting with Pets page
