The majority of landlords are not against allowing their tenants to keep pets, but are instead more concerned about protection from damage and the suitability of the property, according to a new report.
The study by NOAH (National Office of Animal Health), which represents the UK animal health and licensed medicines industry, assesses the views and experiences of both landlords and tenants on the matter of renting with pets and seeks to demonstrate the importance of animal companionship to tenants whilst also acknowledging the impact that pet ownership has on landlords. The overall ambition of the report is to ensure the UK Government delivers on its previously-set policy promises to strike a fair balance between tenants and landlords.
According to the report – ‘Securing the Right to Rent with Pets: Making Government Proposals a Reality’ – more than half (55%) of landlords said they sometimes allow pets in their rental properties, often dependent on a range of factors including size of the property and number and type of pets, while 7.5% allow pets as standard across all rental tenancies and only 15% said they never rent to tenants with pets.
Overall, 28% of landlords were in favour of improving access to pets in rental properties if better protections for landlords are introduced, whilst a further 18% supported access to pets in rental properties generally. A further 53% stated that pet ownership is important, compared to only 3% who stated it was not.
The survey also found that landlords are not necessarily against the idea of renting to a tenant with a pet – rather, 48% felt their properties may not be suitable by being too small, having no garden space, or a communal entrance. Other reasons for now allowing tenants with pets included concerns about pet damage (52%) and previous negative experiences (52%). The majority – 70% – of landlords felt that more protections need to be in place for landlords that do allow tenants to keep pets.
The government’s Renters’ Reform White Paper – ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ – published in June 2022, set out the government’s plans to reform the private rented sector, including provisions that would require landlords to have a good reason to deny a tenant the right to keep a pet. The White Paper also proposes to reform the Tenant Fees Act to enable landlords to protect their properties by requesting tenants to purchase pet insurance as part of their rental agreement in addition to the standard deposit.
NOAH is now calling on the government to implement the proposals with urgency, and to set out clear regulations or standards around tenants who wish to own a pet, for example by stating the size, number and type of pet, and how often the tenant will be at home, to ensure that the pet’s welfare is protected.
Dawn Howard, chief executive at NOAH, said: “Owning a pet has significant benefits for human health – both physical and mental – yet it has historically been very challenging in the UK to rent with a pet in private accommodation.
“Despite what is believed, our own research has shown that many landlords are not necessarily against allowing pets as long as their assets are protected. This finding backs up the changes being proposed in the Renters Reform White Paper and should encourage the Government to move forward with the proposals at pace.
“The additional protection set to be introduced will ensure that responsible pet owners can keep a pet in their rental home, meanwhile landlords can rest assured that any pet damage that may be caused during the tenancy is covered through a pet insurance policy.
“In all, the Government’s proposed rental reforms represent a positive move for responsible pet owners in the rental sector, and a win for landlords who can now widen their pool of rental tenants whilst being fully insured against any potential pet damage.”
