Shall I rent my property with Pets or No Pets?
I have been asked a number of times by landlords about my thoughts on renting properties to pet owners the most common being dogs and cats. Research has been carried out by the Dogs Trust which found that just under half the population owned pets in some shape or form. Therefore if you equate this to tenants that’s just under half of your tenant market.
There are very few landlords in my experience that allow pets in their properties. Most landlords will automatically not allow pets with the most common reasons being if it is a flat the lease does not allow pets or alternatively they believe that the pets will damage their properties more than the reasonable wear and tear one would expect. Now of course one can not get round the problem with leases, however in the second instance, one may increase the deposit amount and add a side letter to include that the responsibility of any damage caused by the pet lies with the tenant and that the property would need to be professionally cleaned at the end of tenancy including proof that this has been done.
Tenants with pets are also aware of how difficult it is to rent a property and therefore tend to look after the property and stay longer which tends to mean that the landlord have less void periods. I am of course not suggesting that every tenant is a responsible pet person however it is certainly something to think twice before you advise your agent that you do not wish to have pets in the property.
If you would like more information concerning this topic or need any other advice concerning lettings you can contact me on 01628 78257701628 782577 or alternatively via email at dominik.potworowski@belvoirlettings.com
