Landlords are not changing their ‘anti-pets’ habits despite the Renters’ Rights Bill making dog and cat refusal much more difficult, says Zero Deposit CEO Sam Reynolds (pictured).

This is because landlords and letting agents will no longer be able to ‘unreasonably’ refuse tenants’ pets in a rental home – but despite this property listings show landlords are not yet adjusting to the changes

In the UK, it is estimated that 51% of adults own a pet, but the rental sector has a long history of not being pet-friendly with only a tiny proportion of rental properties (8%) allowing pets.

As a result, Zero Deposit says, a huge number of tenants are unable to find a home that will accept them and their pets.

North East is best

On a regional level, tenants with pets in the North East have the best chance of securing a home with 9% of listings currently marketed as pet-friendly.

But pet-friendly properties are rarest in the West Midlands (5%), followed by the East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber at 6%, the East of England at 7% and London, the South West, South East, and North West at 8%.

Reynolds commented: “There’s a natural reticence among landlords to open their property to pets for fear of the damage they can potentially cause.

“Many will have experienced pet damage to their properties which has shaped this preference. But these landlords are swimming against an increasingly fervent tide.”

However, he adds that property damage by pets costs money to repair and that: “This spend can be challenging to recoup and can eat into profit margins.

“It is possible that the bill will give landlords the right to insist that specific insurance is taken out.”

“And, while the Renters’ Rights Bill disallows the blanket banning of pets, it also limits the amount of money landlords are allowed to take from their tenants for security deposits, further exposing landlords to the risk of property damage and, therefore, to loss of income.

“It is possible that the bill will give landlords the right to insist that specific insurance is taken out to protect against pet-related damage, thus providing greater security.”