Tenants happily welcome pet-friendly bill
Allowing pets should be a natural part of providing a home for someone, said real estate firm Apropos by DJ Alexander.
The firm responded to a private member of parliament bill by Romford MP, Andrew Rosindell, calling for tenants to be allowed pets and restricting landlords’ rights or agents to include “no pets” policies.
The bill will have its second reading on January 29.
“Many landlords don’t like this idea.”
David Alexander, Joint CEO of Apropos by DJ Alexander, said: “This is a time of year when many people consider purchasing a pet as a gift, but for the millions of people in the private rental sector (PRS), this is not an option.”
“Many landlords are opposed to the idea of allowing tenants to have pets because they fear their property will be damaged, will develop an unpleasant odor, and will lose value.”
“Clearly there can be problems with inappropriate pet owners, but most people are responsible and consider the rental property as their home.”
“They are unlikely to want to live in a home damaged or destroyed by a rogue pet, but there are steps that can be taken to ensure this doesn’t happen, and if it does, then the owner is covered.”
The bill proposes that tenants be allowed to have pets if they can demonstrate that they are “responsible owners” with a checklist of conditions to verify this, including confirmation by a veterinarian of vaccinations, spay or neuter. , that the animal is free of parasites and has been properly trained.
If these conditions are met, and the property is suitable, it will be assumed that the tenant could have a pet.
Alexander added: “The past year has shown that people now, more than ever, consider having a good home as the most important part of their lives. They want to feel comfortable; they want to feel safe, and they want to surround themselves with the things that make them happiest.”
“Frequently, this means having a pet. The Kennel Club released a report saying that 40% of the puppies purchased this year were like a “COVID-19 companion” and two-thirds of new dog owners said their pet was a lifesaver during the confinement.”
“If a landlord allows a tenant to have a pet, then they are more likely to stay longer, they may be willing to pay a premium, and this will foster better relationships. Increasingly, landlords must realize that they are providing housing to people and the kinder they are, the more comfortable they can make their property, the more likely they are to get longer leases and higher rental income.”
“Landlords must be sure that this bill offers them protection for their properties and at the same time allows tenants to have the company of a pet. With proper insurance, the landlord can easily be covered for any damage caused by the pet.”
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