Good news for tenants with pets, on a condition.
The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has ordered the Government's model tenancy agreement to be rewritten and all restrictions be removed, for well-behaved pets.
Statement
The full press statement from the Housing Secretary is as follows: "More young people and families than ever before are renting and should be able to enjoy the happiness that a pet can bring to their lives.
However, currently only around 7 percent of landlords advertise homes as suitable for pets, meaning many people struggle to find a home suitable for themselves and their pets.
Some renters have been forced to give up their pets all together simply because they have been unable to move into a rented property with one.
But the government's model tenancy contracts for renters, which can be used as the basis of lease agreements made with tenants, will now be revised to remove restrictions on well-behaved pets - to ensure more landlords are catering for responsible pet owners wherever possible.
The government is clear there should be a balance with responsible pet owners not being penalised and landlords being more flexible in their approach, and it is right that landlords' properties should be protected from damage by badly behaved pets.
But total bans on renters with pets should only be implemented where there is good reason, such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical."
The new government’s latest move and part of its promise to help tenants is not legally binding as yet, but can become a law in the future after more consultations from property owners and renters alike to be fair to both.
As to why landlords are against pets, especially cats and dogs, is because they are troublesome and can cause a lot of damage to property. Most property owners fear that dogs could become very noisy, barking and howling, annoying the neighbors, especially at night. Cats are known to scratch and claw furniture which can be very expensive to landlords and home insurance companies generally do not cover damages incurred by pets.
But not all pets and pet owners are alike. As stipulated by the House Secretary, restrictions on well-behaved pets are to be lifted to ensure that landlords are catering to responsible pet owners. However, where there is good reason or having a pet is simply too restricting like living in a small property or a flat, the ban shall be imposed.
Sources:
https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2020/1/tenancy-agreements-to-be-overhauled-to-end-pet-bans
https://propertyindustryeye.com/tenancy-agreements-to-be-overhauled-to-remove-restrictions-on-pets/
http://content.tailster.com/blog/why-is-it-so-hard-to-rent-a-place-with-a-pet/
