Data from a recent “What’s the damage?” online survey found that reports of damage amounting to £1,000 or more was the most common answer to the value of pet damage, and over half of respondents were unable to recoup pet damage costs specifically.
The survey and research are being undertaken as a joint project between lettings industry trade bodies Propertymark and the National Residential Landlords Association along with landlord website, LandlordZone and East Midlands-based pets charity AdvoCATS.
The organisations say that the information presented clearly shows that the UK Government has limited the protection of landlords and therefore access to housing for those with pets.
The white paper A fairer private rented sector, recently released by the UK Government, has committed to giving tenants ‘the right to request a pet in their property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse’.
The Government has also confirmed it will amend the Tenant Fees Act so that landlords can request that their tenants buy pet damage insurance. The campaign continues to ensure these commitments are met in the resulting legislation and that pet insurance is designed to meet the needs of landlords, agents, tenants, and pets.
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “The data from this research backs up what Propertymark and others have been warning for some time, that the unintended consequences of the Tenant Fees Act have reduced the appetite for many landlords to take on the greater risk of damage.
“With the demand for pet-friendly homes continuing to increase, the UK Government must now see and understand the costs involved for landlords and implement rules that support the sector to take on greater risk in order to support more people to rent with pets.”
James Wood, NRLA Policy Manager, said: “With many landlords unable to recover the damage caused by pets, it is no surprise that landlords generally prefer to let to tenants without pets. Particularly those with smaller portfolios who are not able to absorb the losses caused by damage.
“If the UK Government is to increase the supply of pet-friendly homes, then it is vital that landlords and agents have confidence they can recover the cost of repairs. Amending the Tenant Fees Act to permit pet insurance or pet deposits would provide this confidence and give tenants with pets more options in the private rented sector.”
Jen Berezai, Co-Founder of AdvoCATS, said: "Over three-quarters of tenants either have or aspire to own a pet, and this must be reflected in the number of pet-friendly rentals on offer.
"Our survey results show that the majority of landlords and lettings agencies are in favour of a simple legislative change which will dramatically increase the number of landlords willing to accept pets, once they know they can protect themselves in the event of any pet damage, and we urge the Government to act on this knowledge."
