A landlords guide to pets in rental properties
How to avoid pet-related problems in tenancy
Add a pet clause to the tenancy agreement
It’s recommended that you add a pet clause to the
tenancy agreement. This will need to clearly state
the tenant’s responsibilities for keeping the pet in the
property, such as specific cleaning requirements, pest
treatment, extra garden maintenance and the rectification
of any carpet stains and scratch-marks on doors and
woodwork.
Make sure you include specific details on the number
and type of pet(s) allowed in the property to avoid
misunderstandings which could lead to issues during
tenancy.
Using a specific clause to reflect special circumstances
gives less room for dispute over what the tenant is
responsible for and whether deposit deductions are
reasonable.
Ask for details about the pet in question
It is acceptable to ask for further information about the
tenant’s pet before deciding. Each situation is unique
and each decision can be made on individual merit. For
example, ask if your tenant can provide a reference from
a previous landlord as to the pet’s behaviour.
If this isn’t possible, your tenant should be able to provide
details about the pet’s breed, such as whether it is
hypoallergenic, low-shedding, large or small, noisy and
whether it has been trained and neutered.
Importantly, you should clarify with the tenant how much
time their pet will be left alone in the property.
Whilst more
people are currently working from home, this may change
in the future as people return to work.
You should also ask for the pet’s name with details of
who would care for it in case of emergency
Conduct a thorough inventory report
A comprehensive inventory/check-in report is essential
for minimising deposit disputes – regardless of whether a
tenant owns pets or not. It provides clear evidence at the
end of tenancy as to how the condition of a property has
changed when compared to an equally thorough checkout report.
To ensure you don’t miss out the key points for inventory
reporting, we recommend using the below checklist:
When recording the condition of each room in the
property, note the small details such as paintwork,
flooring, carpets, doors, curtains and skirting boards
as these are common problem areas for pets.
Include dated photographs to support the written
notes.
Make sure you record any smells in the property.
Don’t forget the outside space. What is the condition
of the lawn? Are there any holes in the garden or
fences?
Note whether or not the property has had a
professional clean at start of tenancy
Key Points;
- Request a reference on the animal from a
previous landlord if applicable.
- Record details about the pet’s breed, age,
behaviour, size and characteristics.
- Include details of a nominated person to take care
of the animal in case of emergency.
- Specify that no animals are to be kept if listed
under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act or
Dangerous Dogs Act.
- State that the tenant should not leave a pet alone
in a property for more than the recommended
hours and they must ensure it does not cause
damage when unsupervised.
- Add a pet clause to include specific tenant
responsibilities regarding damage, cleaning and
garden maintenance.
- Include dated photographs and details about
odours when conducting the inventory/check-in
for all areas of the property, inside and out
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