By Responsible tenants with well-behaved pets will be able to secure leases more easily through the new Model Tenancy Agreement announced by the government today (28 January 2021).
Under the new Model Tenancy Agreement, announced by Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets.
Instead, consent for pets will be the default position, and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.
Currently, just 7% of private landlords advertise pet friendly properties, meaning many people struggle to find suitable homes.
In some cases, this has meant people have had to give up their pets all together.
The Model Tenancy Agreement is the government’s recommended contract for landlords.
With figures showing that more than half of adults in the United Kingdom own a pet and many more welcoming pets into their lives during the pandemic, these changes mean more landlords will cater for responsible pet owners.
Under the new agreement, rejections should only be made where there is good reason, such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical.
To ensure landlords are protected, tenants will continue to have a legal duty to repair or cover the cost of any damage to the property.
Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said:
“We are a nation of animal lovers and over the last year more people than ever before have welcome pets into their lives and homes.”
“But it can’t be right that only a tiny fraction of landlords advertise pet friendly properties and in some cases people have had to give up their beloved pets in order to find somewhere to live.”
“Through the changes to the tenancy agreement we are making today, we are bringing an end to the unfair blanket ban on pets introduced by some landlords.”
“This strikes the right balance between helping more people find a home that’s right for them and their pet while ensuring landlords’ properties are safeguarded against inappropriate or badly behaved pets.”
I think this is totally ridiculous! as a landlord you are providing accommodation in your property and its the owners right to allow pets.
I wonder how many properties the Christopher Pincher rents out as being a landlord is becoming a favour rather then a business.
Is the consistent hammering at landlords because we are overloaded with house in this country ? Thought it was lack of housing and if the latter why deter landlords!
So this is going to force landlords to accept pets and protect landlords as landlords will be able to enforce their current legal rights to recover for damages caused by pet – what a leap forward landlords current legal rights will be continued!
So you have a nice tenant with a lovely cudderly puppy. Will it be well behaved? – who knows.
Once it’s in the property you are stuck with it, it might bark all day and annoy your neighbours – tough you are stuck with it.
It chews up the carpets door frames, doors and pees and soaks the floor boards – you are stuck with it.
After all you did ask if it was a well behaved dog and you were assured it was.
OK the tenant is responsible for the remedial costs but they can’t afford vets bills let alone cover its damages – your chances of recovery of losses is minimal you have the costs of putting it right for it to all happen again.
You must be a politician to think this is good idea WITHOUT GUARANTEED PROTECTION against losses.
Good point!
I think if people move in with a dog or acquire a dog, landlords should be able to take a dog deposit.
It’s already a struggle to get tenants to rectify their damage, and often the deposit doesn’t cover the costs!
Are tenants also prepared to pay for a professional deep clean, on moving out?
Ridiculous & totally not thought through. Another case of landlord bashing & politicians trying to score brownie points….
Rented properties are owned by the landlord, usually after considerable hard work and personal investment in time & money let alone risk to acquire the property in the first place.
And its their choice to let it to tenants , so the decision whether to allow pets should remain with the landlords.
The inevitable damage to property, nuisance caused, additional risk & admin cost will only force up rents & deposits for tenants ! Continued landlord bashing only serves to dissuade landlords from investing and in turn providing affordable housing to so many people……
I would suggest these politicians visit properties damaged from having pets, not only do they smell of animal and need a refresh of paint to get the smell out before re-letting, the damage to carpets, door frames, and general upkeep of some tenants doesn’t bare thinking about.
Neighbours objecting to pets should be factored into to llord justification, as tenants with pets against the neighbours wishes could cause major issues, not to mention tenancy agreement siting no excessive noise btwn 11pm-7.30am.
Even the maximum deposit amount of 5 wks rent would not cover the cost of damage, in addition to any other deductions required and again the landlord would have lost out financially.
I think an increase in rent and/or deposit, in addition to an accelerated eviction process should be considered, for those who fail to maintain the property when allowed a pet.
This is a means of the government attempting to get high numbers of people on-side and it’s not the first occasion.
McDonald attempted to dangle a couple of carrots with the Pet deal and also the right for tenants to make a compulsory offer on the property they were renting and at a knock down price at the last election.
Like many of the posts on here I too object to politicians dictating terms of tenancy.
However they make reference to a government sculptured “Model Tenancy Agreement”.
I use my own tenancy agreement which clearly states no pets at any time allowed on or in the property so as far as I’m concerned I will not be recognising tenant applications from people with animals.
I rarely make comment on items such as this but in this case I have to.
I am a landlord, and although I currently don’t have a pet I have done for much of my life.
I also don’t have a blanket ban on pets in my rental properties as I respect that in many cases it is acceptable.
Every pet owner I have ever encountered however, has said that their pet is well behaved.
No one has ever told me about a badly behaved pet.
I often tell the story of my very well behaved dog who never caused any damage and was house trained.
One day, due to adverse weather, I was delayed getting home and was a couple of hours late. I got home to a front door that was torn to shreds inside and a very large pile of poo beside it.
The dog was trying to be well behaved and trying to get out to do its business.
Well behaved and well intentioned, but still a very large repair bill that you cannot get insured for.
How many tenants would be willing or in some cases even able, to pay for this kind of repair?
I have no issue with pets, but a pet deposit is essential to protect what is, at the end of the day, my property and my hard earned investment.
As a Landlord for 30 years this September, I’m actually thinking of giving it all up with these endless restrictions being imposed on honest landlords who are just trying to make a living.
Makes me laugh how tenants can live in a home without paying rent – and the Government tells the landlord you can’t knock on the door asking for YOUR rent money or you’ll be arrested for harassment, you can’t even evict the non-paying tenant/s, but it’s ok they can add a cuddly little pooch instead and sit back and relax in their rent free home.
Meanwhile the landlord has to ensure the boiler is serviced annually, the consumer unit is updated to meet the new 18th edition regulations, everything works 100% and the free non-paying tenant/s are nice and warm – along with their new pet!
What an absolute joke.
I am 50 and live alone and my family are living way away. I suffer with my mental health, my two senior cats are vital for my mental health. I have been privately renting for 14 years, I have just been given notice that my landlady is selling. I have been sick with worry that nowhere will accept me with my two cats. They have barely caused any damage. They are vaccinated, regularly get flea and worming treatments. My landlady said she will give me a good reference. I am more than happy to pay extra on the deposit. It would destroy me and my mental health to give them up. So why should I?! They are all I have. So I welcome this new law.