Date Published 26 April 2021
Our pets are important for many reasons.
They are a source of genuine companionship for many – which explains why more than 17m households own at least one pet.
Being in the presence of pets has been scientifically proven to improve mental health, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety and improve our overall mood, helping to combat mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression.
That's why a leading veterinary body - the National Office of Animal Health, or NOAH - has started a campaign to have pets allowed in private rental properties.
NOAH says the government's new model tenancy agreement, launched early this year, leads the way for more dogs, cats and other animals to be kept responsibly by tenants.
The NOAH campaign is called ‘Securing the Right to Rent with Pets: Making One Health Housing a Reality'.
We understand that renting with pets comes with a level of concern for landlords, whether this is perceived fear of damage to the property or badly behaved pets – however, we truly believe that widening access to pets will actually bring benefits to landlords that outweigh these often-inflated fears.
The RSPCA also found tenants who are given permission to look after a pet in their rental property were likely to live in that property for twice as long compared to other tenants – creating long-term, secure tenants for landlords.
Under the new Model Tenancy Agreement, announced by Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets.
Instead, consent for pets will be the default position, and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.
If you are a landlord or tenant and have questions about renting with pets, even if you're not a client of ours, get in touch as we'd love to help.
