Paws for Thought… Should Falkirk Landlords Accept Pets?

Tenants with pets are often dismissed out of hand by landlords who are worried about potential damage to their property.

This is very understandable.

However, opening up your property to tenants with pets may help maximise its rental potential and, by excluding pet owners, you may be missing out on a huge part of the rental market.

In some circumstances it’s a definite ‘No’!  Your title deeds may state that pets are not allowed – more likely in blocks of flats. Also, consideration should also be given to the type of property in question.  Does its age and size accommodate pets properly – a large dog in a brand new, fully furnished property is probably not a good idea.

Almost half of the UK population owns a pet and accepting pets into your property may well be advantageous.

Advantages

Increase demand for your property. With so few pet friendly properties out there, they are much sought after and may command higher than usual rents.

Encourage tenants to stay longer. Pet owners know how difficult it can be to find pet friendly rental properties and are more likely to have a longer tenancy.

Attract responsible tenants. Pet owners often take much more care of their home so not to jeopardise their tenancy making them ideal tenants!

So why is it that many landlords instinctively say they do not want pets due to the possibility of damage or noise? Landlords instantly reject tenants with pets when they apply for property. Is it really a sensible approach?

Steps To Take

If you do wish to accept pets into your property, there are a number of things you can do to further increase your protection:

• Insert a Pet Clause into the Tenancy Agreement setting out the responsibilities of the pet owner ie the tenant.
• Take a higher deposit to allow for any additional work that may be required at the end of the tenancy.
• Insist that the tenants pay for a professional clean at the end of the tenancy.

A landlord can look at each case on its own merits. You may accept a small Terrier but not accept a large Alsatian. Every application can be treated individually.

www.thekeyplace.co.uk

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