A report out earlier this week suggests landlords across the UK are finding they are claiming more and more on their landlord insurance for damage caused by inhabitants that should not be there.
The report from the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) says that many tenants are smuggling pets into their homes without the landlords consent and, in some cases, the pets are wreaking havoc with furniture and fittings. The AIIC are warning landlords to be on their guard when showing prospective tenants round their properties and telling them to look for tell tale signs when they carry out inspections on incumbent tenants.
According to the AIIO report, the upsurge in tenants housing pets that are not allowed stems from the increased demand for rental accommodation and the number of people being forced to rent because they can no longer afford to live in their own properties, or are waiting for a deal to go through. These people often have much loved family pets that they have nowhere to place. Unfortunately for landlords, the pets can cause a lot of problems, especially in properties at the top end of the market.
Pat Barber, chairwoman of the AIIO, said: “Many tenants will work hard to hide any signs of pets in advance of a visit from a landlord and agent. So landlords and agents need to be vigilant in looking for evidence. We have seen all kinds of pet damage over the years. They can create expensive damage to cables, doors and frames and furniture from chewing. Many tenants will go to great lengths to conceal a pet from an agent or landlord as they are well aware they are breaking the terms of the tenancy agreement.”
Landlords suspecting tenants of sheltering pets are advised to look for signs of scratching on chairs, worktops, doors and cupboards and for pet hairs on soft furnishings. Alternatively of course landlords can allow tenants to bring their pets with them providing they cover the prospect of pet damage in the tenant contract.