Should rules surrounding pets in rented properties be relaxed?

Should rules surrounding pets in rented properties be relaxed?

New research commissioned by Intus Lettings indicates that there are a sizeable number of tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) who are unable to own pets, or find a suitable property which will allow pets.

The survey of over 2,000 renters, conducted by Intus Lettings, asked what the most important features tenants typically look for in a rental property are, with the most common responses being outdoor space (46 per cent), followed by a car parking space (42 per cent).

However a large group of responders cited that a pet-friendly property was the most important factor, highlighting a common qualm from renters who are unable to own a pet because of strict rules surrounding pets in the PRS.

A recent survey from SpareRoom supports this, revealing that 69 per cent of landlords will not allow pets in their properties, leading to a quarter of tenants keeping a pet despite it breaching the terms of their rental agreement.

Hope McKendrick, Head of Lettings at Intus Lettings said: “Our latest survey has shown that there are a growing number of UK tenants tied into the rental sector because of deposit concerns. With this in mind it’s important that tenants can feel like they’re able to make a house a home, and for many this means being able to have a pet.”

She added, “With the majority of rental accommodation prohibiting pets as a condition of the tenancy agreement, many tenants are forced to illegitimately keep pets, meaning they could face eviction if caught; and in some extreme cases some renters have had to give up their pets prior to moving into rental accommodation.”

As the rental sector continues to grow we can only expect demand for pet friendly homes to rise, and it will be interesting to see how the sector advances to support this.”

According to the recent data from Intus Lettings, some 56 per cent of people said they choose to rent because they can’t afford the initial lump sum of purchasing a property – up four per cent on last year.

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