Lets With Pets

The government has recently announced that changes will be coming into effect to make renting a property with pets easier.

Further details will follow, with a bill being introduced to parliament in May this year, but the timescale for implementation not yet clear.

The changes to the legislation include:

• Introducing a pet bond (set at a maximum of two weeks rent) that can be charged in addition to the existing bond,

• Making tenants liable for all pet damage to properties beyond fair wear and tear. This means a tenant is fully liable for any accidental or careless damage caused by pets, as well as any intentional damage,

• Requiring that tenants may only have a pet or pets with the consent of the landlord, who can withhold consent on reasonable grounds. 

We understand how challenging it can be finding a pet friendly rental, but also the concerns that property owners have when it comes to renting to tenants with pets.

Currently Just Property Management consider pets on a case by case basis and have a comprehensive pet clause inserted into our tenancy agreement covering off additional requirements for tenancies where pets have been allowed.

We manage a number of tenancies with pets and overall most run very smoothly, with minimal issues or problems found during or at the end of tenancies.

We have also found that being open to considering pets at a property can increase the size of the pool of potential tenants, which can be a great way of reducing vacancy periods.