There are a lot of questions for both landlords and tenants about keeping pets in a rental property. Pets can bring a great amount of comfort and joy to their owners, but some landlords do have concerns about potential damage caused by pets. Read on to find what the new Renters (Reform) Bill will bring, when it comes to renting to tenants with pets.
The Renters (Reform) Bill
The Renters (Reform) Bill will ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge, what they feel, are unfair decisions.
However, The Bill will allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that any damage caused by a pet can be taken care of, and that the responsibility for preventing and resolving damage will fall to the tenant.
When can a landlord refuse a tenant having a pet?
Landlords will be required to consider all requests on a case-by-case basis. There are situations where it will always be reasonable for a landlord to refuse a request – including where their superior landlord prohibits pets.
What happens if a landlord unreasonably refuses?
Where a tenant feels that a landlord has unreasonably refused their request, they will be able to escalate their complaint to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman or they could take the case to court. The Ombudsman or court will make the final decision based on the evidence provided by both parties.
What happens if a pet damages a property?
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 is being amended, so that landlords can require insurance to cover any damage caused by pets living in the property. The tenancy deposit, paid by the tenant, can be used for damages, although landlords should not attempt to recover costs twice for the same damage. In the very rare cases where the insurance and deposit do not cover the cost of the damage, a landlord could take the tenant to court to recoup additional funds.
When will the changes be implemented?
The new system will be implemented in two stages, ensuring all stakeholders have sufficient notice to implement the necessary changes. The government will provide at least 6 months’ notice of the first implementation date after which all new tenancies will be periodic and governed by the new rules, including the changes to renting with pets. The date of this will be dependent on when the Bill has received Royal Assent.
To avoid a two-tier rental sector and to make sure landlords and tenants are clear on their rights, all existing tenancies will move to a new system on the second implementation date. The government will allow at least 12 months between the first and second date.