Under the new tenancy system, it will be an implied term of every assured tenancy that a tenant will be able to keep a pet in the property if they ask for consent in writing and receive the landlord’s consent. Landlords will be required to fully consider all requests on a case-by-case basis.
A landlord must give or refuse consent in writing on or before the 42nd day after the date of the request, although there are some exceptions detailed in the Bill. Guidance on what will be considered a reasonable refusal for a pet request will be provided by the UK Government closer to the Bill’s enactment date. If the tenant believes the request has been unreasonably refused, they will be able to raise it to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman which is to be set up as part of the Bill or through the courts.
Pet insurance
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, a landlord cannot require a tenant to enter into a contract with a third party to provide a service or insurance related to the property. However, the Renters (Reform) Bill now provides an exception for pet insurance, in the same way, some tenants are still required to organise and pay for utility bills. Under the reforms, agents and landlords who consent to the tenant keeping a pet must inform the tenant in writing that either:
- The tenant maintains insurance to cover the risk of pet damage to a reasonable level.
- The tenant must pay the landlord’s reasonable costs of maintaining insurance that covers the risk of pet damage.
Propertymark has long-supported methods to make it easier for landlords and tenants to discuss solutions so that tenants to keep pets in their property, without the landlord incurring unreasonable costs.
The UK Government has produced information on how the Renters (Reform) Bill supports responsible pet owners in the private rented sector.
We will continue to raise the impact of the removal of fixed term tenancies and seek to find a solution with policy makers.
Furthermore, whilst amendments to the Tenant Fees Act to allow for insurance when tenants rent with pets is welcome, we’ll be making the case that it’s not simply about consent but suitability of the type of property and pets.
Research
Renting with pets survey reveals extent of damage costs to landlords
An online survey showed that pet damage is extremely common in properties where landlords rent to tenants with pets and the costs are difficult to recoup. With the demand for pet-friendly homes continuing to increase, the UK Government must now understand the costs for landlords and implement rules that support the sector.
Guidance
Renting with pets
This guide provides letting agents and their landlords with information that can help maximise the benefits of renting with pets while taking appropriate action to minimise the risk of damage.
