Government Encourages Pet Friendly Lets

Haslemere and surrounding villages are popular rental sports for dog owners and nature lovers alike. There is an abundance of fantastic walks, bridle ways and areas of natural beauty. However pet friendly rentals aren’t always easy to find, but this is set to change.

This year the Government has set about encouraging landlords to allow responsible tenants to have well-behaved pets. This a major change in policy.

The model tenancy contract, which is used as the template for many rental agreements, will be reworded to remove restrictions on pets. It is hoped the move will encourage landlords to allow them. 

The current default tenancy agreement states that “the tenant must not keep any pets or other animals at the property without the prior written consent of the landlord which must not be unreasonably withheld.”  

A statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said total bans on pets “should only be implemented where there is good reason, such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical.”

By accepting tenants with pets, landlords can increase demand for properties and attract long-term, responsible tenants, according to ‘Lets with Pets’ – a national scheme by the Dogs Trust. Keats is pleased to be a pet friendly letting agency and we follow the good practice guides provided by Lets with Pets.

Rita Tinney, Keats Sales and Lettings Director commented: “When it comes to tenants with pets, we have a pet clause in our tenancy agreement, which has to be adhered to. Tenants are asked to complete a pet CV before moving into a property, so pets are always included in the initial lettings process.

“For landlords, we provide as much information as possible about the pet and their owner, so they are fully informed. An increased deposit is always taken for a pet friendly let for extra peace of mind.”