Of Mice (Dogs, Cats) and Men

The reaction from people towards pets in the home generates quite polarised reactions. Some people love having animals live with them, while others cannot bear the thought. For people who own their own property, it’s a simple matter of knowing what their personal preference is. For tenants on the other hand, they need to be sure their landlord is happy to have an animal living in their property.
As the owner, landlords have a definitive say on whether their building is pet friendly. Tenants who ignore this could be in breach of their contract and risk eviction. Therefore it is important to make clear whether pets are allowed or not when listing your property.

No Pets Allowed

A majority of rental properties refuse tenants who own, or are hoping to eventually own, a pet regardless of its type or size. This can be frustrating for pet owners as they argue the landlord will not be the person living with the animal; therefore it has no direct impact on them. However, the landlord can still suffer the effects of having a pet such as damaged furnishings and complaints from neighbours.

The most common domestic animals are dogs and cats, which can each cause the most problems as they have more freedom to roam around the house, unlike caged pets. They are notorious for chewing and scratching furniture, being too noisy, soiling floors, creating offensive odours inside a property and ruining the appearance of a well kept garden. Even with the most well behaved animal and responsible tenant, these destructive traits can still occur. Therefore it is understandable why most landlords, particularly when they are providing a furnished property, refuse pets.

If a tenant has pet insurance, then there is a chance you will not be held liable for any damage to yours, or anyone else’s property caused by the animal. But as extra protection, you should have landlord insurance for any other issues that may arise.

Benefits of Allowing Pets

As a majority of landlords do not accept pets, there is a constant high supply of tenants looking for pet friendly properties. With such a high demand for these properties, tenants are more willing to pay a higher price which can cover the extra costs landlords face by being pet friendly. In addition, pet owners are more likely to stay in your property longer as it is much harder for them to find alternative places to live.

Another benefit of allowing pets is that you don’t need to worry as much about the décor of your property. Most pet owners tend not to buy fine items for their home as there is a higher risk of them being ruined. Therefore they will not be too judgmental if the property does not have brand new furnishings.
You can also control what animal will be staying in your property, as you enquire about a tenant’s pet during the screening process. So for example, if you have an allergy to cats you can refuse cat owners, as you will have to occasionally visit the property.

As a final note, it is important to be aware that the freedom to refuse pet owners is not always black and white. Some tenants with a disability may require the permanent assistance of a pet, such as guide dogs. With this in mind, you will need to consult discrimination regulations and other related laws on whether you are still able to refuse a disabled tenant and their pet.

Leave a Reply