Gentle feline purrs, cute puppy paws and cheeky little chinchillas. Pets are part of the family and many people relocating to the UK will either bring a four‐legged friend with them or intend to purchase a pet once they have settled in.
The sticking point is often landlords. To them, that loveable bundle of fluff actually represents the unshift‐able smell of wet dog, a plethora of scratches in the paintwork, unsavoury stains on the carpet and a case of spray‐resistant super fleas. Boiling it down ‐ a pet costs a landlord in extra maintenance, repairs and end‐of‐tenancy cleaning.
In many cases, it’s stipulated very early on in the rental property search that a pet is not welcome. A dog, mog or event monitor lizard, however, isn’t an insurmountable issue when it comes to finding the right rental.
Klippa Relocation has worked with hundreds of clients who are relocating with their beloved pooch or for whom a house only becomes a home once a cat is in residence. We use our experience to find suitable rental accommodation where everyone can live harmoniously under one roof.
Here’s our quick guide to renting with pets:‐
Establish early if pets are part of the package ‐ there are fewer landlords willing to take tenants with pets so the search may take longer. Finding out whether pets are part of the relocation plan ‐ or maybe moved in during the tenancy ‐ will help the property search.
Get your client to prepare a pet CV ‐ sound crazy? It’s not as odd as you think. A pet CV detailing the ownership history, the vaccination record and the flea/worming programme the pet is following will help appease landlords. Pet references are even better ‐ a few positive words from a past landlord or boarder/kennel on good behaviour will really impress.
Factor in a higher deposit ‐ landlords willing to accept pets will usually ask for a larger deposit in light of the increased maintenance, cleaning and repair bills that may result.
Offer to pay for specific pet‐accommodating landlord insurance ‐ pet damage is not usually covered by standard insurance taken out by a landlord, and a pet‐specific policy will cost them more. Offering to pay towards this will show the landlord that the client is a responsible pet owner.
Prepare your client for a pet questionnaire ‐ before a landlord takes on a tenant with a pet, he will want to know more about the animal(s). Expect questions in advance that pertain to house training, frequency of unsupervised periods, behaviour and general health.
Offer to have the property professionally deep cleaned ‐ pet smells and stains will hamper a landlord when he re‐lets a property. If your client will pay for a professional deep clean at the end of the tenancy, a landlord is more likely to consider them as a tenant.
Ensure the inclusion of pets is set out in the tenancy agreement ‐ even if a landlord verbally agrees to accept a tenant with a pet, ensure that the promise is documented in the legally‐binding tenancy agreement.
If you have a client who is relocating with a pet, contact the Klippa Relocation team for rental advice.
