Almost half the UK population own a pet, and this is rising fast post-pandemic! Yet many landlords are reluctant to accept pets!  According to research by The Dogs Trust, some 78% of pet owners reported that they had experienced difficulty finding rented accommodation that would accept pets.

However, if you are a landlord, agreeing to accept pets can help you maximise your return on investment for the following reasons:

· Your pool of prospective tenants is almost doubled!

· You are therefore likely to let your property quickly and avoid void periods

· Pet owners will often pay a larger deposit or sizeable “pet premium” due to the scarcity of properties that accept pets

· Pet owners are more likely to stay longer in a property and accept they may need to cover additional cleaning costs when they leave.

A blanket ban on pet ownership by tenants is actually regarded as an “unfair term” by the OFT, and there is no reason why most pets cannot be accommodated within the existing terms of the lease (which already provides for “no damage”). Obviously goldfish, budgies and hamsters are unlikely to cause a problem, but landlords can worry about cats and dogs. Cat-owning tenants should confirm that a “scratching post” will be provided. The inventory clerk should also pay particular attention to scratchable areas. Not all dogs molt, and not all bark. Indeed, having a dog that barks occasionally can increase security in the area.

A written reference from a previous landlord is probably a good idea, and you may wish to meet the pet first – it will then be up to you as to whether you wish to accept them.