The truth about (renting with) cats and dogs

We are a nation of animal lovers. Not a shocking statement, but one which makes the difficulty some find in renting with pets a surprise. There is nothing worse than calling up a letting agent about your dream house, which you have been waiting to come onto the market for the last month, only to be told that the owners are not interested in accepting your furry chum. And as a landlord why should you consider accepting pets when some tenants can be bad enough on their own?

What to consider as a landlord?

1. No two pets are the same. There are great differences in all animals and you should ask your agent for some information about the pet’s age, breed and character. With a bit of searching on the internet you should be able to find out what the pet is likely to be like and how much damage they might, or might not, cause to your investment.
2. Make sure to think about things objectively. When you consider pets you maximise the market that your property is open to. You will have more potential tenants and can potentially secure a higher rent than if you discount them straight away.
3. Tenants with pets are likely to stay in your property longer than those without. Given the difficulty that they have to find suitable properties it can be a real hassle moving, so if they are happy in the property they are more likely to stay put.
4. If you are really worried about your carpets or curtains then ask your agent to insert a suitable clause into the tenancy agreement to safeguard you. You can ask for them to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy in case the pet has an accident and damages your possessions.

How can you make yourself more attractive as a tenant with pets?

1. Come to your agent with good references. If you have rented before, make sure you have a reference from a previous landlord to show that your pet is well trained and hasn’t caused any damage. If you were previously a homeowner then ask a neighbour for a reference. Do whatever you can to show that your pet was never an issue in the past.
2. Be willing to be flexible on other aspects. Realise that you may need to pay the asking rent or start a tenancy earlier than you would ideally like in order to make you and your pet more appealing to the landlord.
3. Be ready to pay a higher deposit. Although a landlord must accept “fair wear and tear” and with a pet you would expect more, some landlords (or agents) may ask for a higher deposit in order to allow your pet to come with you to their property.

As a tenant with a pet make sure you read the tenancy agreement properly and understand exactly what you are signing to accept. At the end of the tenancy make sure you know what you have agreed to and you adhere to the terms of the agreement. If you are unsure of anything then ask the letting agent before you do sign.

If you need any help in finding a pet friendly property then contact us on info@oxfordpropertyconsulting.co.uk so that we can find somewhere suitable for the whole family. Read more about how to negotiate the best rent possible here