Pets in Lets: Don’t end up in the dog house!

We’re often regarded as a nation of dog lovers and the rise in dog ownership over the last two years – sparked in no small part by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and working from home – has naturally led to more residential lettings tenants wanting a home where their pets are also welcome.

But while the vision of man’s best friend being a friendly addition to a family home, unfortunately the reality can be very different if the pet in question isn’t as well behaved as one might wish.

Kate Ridley, Lettings Manager at Milne Moser, explains further: “A lot of landlords are happy to be flexible with tenants and allow pets as part of the tenancy agreement, recognising the obvious physical and mental wellbeing benefits that our furry companions offer.”

“However, the flip-side of this is that tenants also have a duty of care for the property they are renting and that includes being responsible for the actions of their pets, with dogs in particular being the ones under scrutiny.”

At the end of 2021, research by price comparison website MoneySuperMarket reported that dogs cause £1.5 billion of damage per year to properties in the UK.

The findings also went as far as to name and shame specific breeds, with labradoodles identified as the UK’s most destructive dogs causing damage to an average value of £192 annually. Golden Retrievers were second, with German Shepherds third on the list.

On average, it is estimated that the national average for damage caused in a home is £147 per dog. If your preference is for a smaller breed, you’ll be relieved to know that Jack Russell’s were found to be the most furniture-friendly breed in the report.

Regarding what items in particular were damaged, carpets unsurprisingly topped the list, followed by sofas, rugs, chairs and beds.

“Reading this information from MoneySuperMarket was a reminder of the reality of pet ownership and the responsibilities we have when bringing a dog into the home.”

“Prospective tenants are required to declare pet ownership as part of their application process and we have our own pet policy document which they are required to complete and which outlines the conditions under which tenants may keep pets in a rented property.”

Milne Moser’s pet policy requires tenants to provide a reference from their previous landlord (if they have rented with their pet previously) and make assurances that dogs are not left unattended in the property for lengthy periods of time.

The policy document also goes beyond the physical property, fixtures and fittings, with assurances required around the health and welfare of animals being included as part of the tenant’s ongoing responsibilities.

“Our pet policy forms part of the legally binding agreement between landlord and tenant, and any damage caused by animals must to be covered by the tenant’s insurance or paid for directly by the tenant themselves. No-one wants the prospect of having to withhold all or part of the deposit at the end of the tenancy because of accidental pet damage.”

“We appreciate that no tenant wilfully allows their dog or any other pet to cause damage to the property they are renting, but it isn’t possible to be present 24/7 to ensure nothing bad happens. We will always recommend that tenants check their own home insurance policy to ensure they are fully in the event of damage caused by their pets.”

“As part of our fully managed lettings service, we will look out for any damage to a property as part of our inspection visits and will highlight this to tenants and seek assurances that appropriate repairs or replacements are made. Of course, we will also bring this to the attention of the landlord so that they may make their own inspection should they wish.”