For those of us that have a four (or more)-legged friend, we know that they’re treated as more than just a pet, they’re part of the family. In fact, a whopping 53% of UK adults have a pet. With those stats, you’d expect it to be easy to find a home for yourself and your furry (or scaly, or feathered) friends, but often that isn’t the case.
There are 4.6 million privately rented households in the UK. Of this number, only around 7% of landlords advertise homes as pet friendly – that’s less than 350,000 homes across the whole of the UK! So, when the odds are stacked against you, how can you find a home that will allow your animal family members to live alongside you? Luckily, Aspire to Move are here to help with our handy guide. Let’s dive into it…
New Government Guidance
Fortunately for pet owners, the Government has been working on reforms that make it easier for tenants to rent with pets. Introduced on the 28th January 2021, the Model Tenancy Agreement meant that responsible tenants with well-behaved pets would be able to secure acceptable rental properties more easily. However, the use of the 2021 model was completely voluntary with no legal requirement to use it.
The recent Renters Reform Bill has made it even more difficult for landlords to refuse to let to tenants with pets. Unlike before, landlords will have to prove significant reasons and reasonable grounds if they refuse a request to rent with a pet. However, the Bill also means that landlords do have the opportunity to insist that tenants purchase adequate insurance that covers the risk of pet damage.
Top tips for finding pet-friendly rental properties
With the Renters Reform Bill in mind, we’ll now go into our top tips for finding pet-friendly properties and ensuring that your landlord accepts your request.
Start planning early
Like with anything, the more time you give yourself, the better chance you’ll have of finding a home that fits your requirements.
If you have a set date that you need to move out of your current home, for example if your tenancy has come to an end or your landlords are selling the property, we recommend beginning your property search at least 8 weeks before. This allows you to really figure out exactly what you want, visit potential properties and give your landlord the correct amount of notice.
When searching for your property, filter your search results by “pets allowed”, and also consider adding in keywords such as “park” if you have a dog, or “quiet” if you have a cat and don’t want to be near a main road.
Make a good case for your pet and have a conversation about their concerns
If you’ve found your dream property but the owner needs a bit of persuading to let your companion live in their house, have a conversation with them about their concerns and provide evidence to alleviate their concerns. For example, if your prospective landlord is worried about your furry/ feathered/ scaly friend causing a nuisance to the neighbours, perhaps providing them with references from former landlords, or even neighbours, that counteract this could help to change their minds.
It might also be a good idea to provide the landlord with your pet’s medical details, such as latest vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, microchipping and neutering confirmation and your vet’s contact details.
All of this will help to reassure your potential new landlord that you are a responsible pet owner.
As well as this, make sure you show willingness to cover the costs of any damage caused by your pet, however unlikely it may be. This is your legal responsibility, but it can help to prove that you are aware of the rules and understand their concerns.
Introduce your pet to your landlord
Another way to ease the landlord’s mind, especially if you have a dog, could be to introduce your pet to them in advance. Your landlord will be able to see how well-behaved your animal is and will help to convince them that they won’t cause any damage or disruption to the property or your neighbours.
How Aspire to Move can help
If you’re looking to rent a property with your animal companion, Aspire to Move can help! We offer a range of different properties to rent in Bath and Bristol, and we often list whether pets are considered in the features section.
Get in contact with us today to discover how we can help you find your dream home!
