Renting to tenants with pets

[DogsTrust]

As part of Dogs Trust's forthcoming 'Lets with Pets' campaign, we are conducting a survey of landlords and letting agents to learn more about their experiences and concerns when renting properties to pet owners.

Please help us by going to our website and completing our survey.

[BarryM]

As a dog owner.....I've always recommended that landlords let suitable properties to tenants with pets (where head lease etc allow). There's pretty straightforward ways of getting an additional indemnity for damage. Tenants looking with pets have less choice. In a market that is often to the landlord's advantage.

My two are called Max and Junior by the way . I'll post a picture if you like .....

[landlordinsurance]

Hi Barry,

We are a landlord insurance broker and had a query yesterday asking if our landlord insurance policies cover pets.

We checked with each of our 8 main insurers and although they all allowed tenants to have pets, none of them would cover any damaged caused by them.

The customer in question left to continue their searches but as far as we could see, it seems like it is a standard exclusion with all companies. I was wondering if you knew what companies provide this cover so I can let them know.

Thanks

[BarryM]

Hi

I'll look in to it - I doubt its available as a mainstream policy, and tenants are expected to indemnify the landlord against damage (we use specific clause on this too).

Most of our lettings are to high net worth tenants in banking / FS etc - and fortuantely I've never come across a problem where any damage caused by a pet wasn't made good.

- As for children....that's another story

[landlordinsurance]

Originally Posted by BarryM

- As for children....that's another story

Yes, won't be long before insurance policies read:

"Section 4.3.1 - excludes all damage to wallpaper done by 5 year old boys with a crayon in their hand"

[DogsTrust]

Thank you for your comments. Its is good to know that letting agents and landlords do have positive experiences of renting to tenants with pets. We are keen to hear any advice you may have.

And we always like to see cute photos of dogs

[BarryM]

If I can work out how to post images here.....

[Rebecca1]

As a dog owner myself, I am having great difficulty looking for a place to rent in the Leeds area. Most of the adverts I have seen specify no pets, no DSS, no children. I am fortunate in the fact that I work and have no children, but will someone let me and Buttons have a rental property ....please.

[landlordinsurance]

Cruel landlords in leeds then! I can see why landlords would say no to pets (as any damage caused by them wouldn't be covered - as discussed earlier) but why can't they just build something in their lease to cover their backs saying any damage caused by pets is the tenant's responsibility. I'm sure the tenants wouldn't mind this?

[brian]

Originally Posted by BarryM

If I can work out how to post images here.....

If you click on the "Go advanced" button at the bottom of the reply box below the thread, that should put you into a more advanced posting interface - in which case, scroll down, click on "manage attachments" and that should allow you to upload the images. Just watch out they're aren't too big - 500-800px wide is usually a good size.