Top tips
When you are looking for privately rented accommodation with your pet, there are a number of things you can do to make the house hunting process as simple as possible and to show prospective landlords that you are a responsible pet owner.
Please note: Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, tenants can now only be charged a maximum tenancy deposit of 5 weeks' rent (where the total annual rent is less than £50,000) or 6 weeks' rent (where the total annual rent is £50,000 or more). Under this Act, tenants can no longer be charged any fees other than those permitted by the Act. For more information, please visit the Shelter website.
1. Don’t leave your house hunting until the last minute
Give yourself plenty of time to find a pet-friendly property and begin searching at least 6-8 weeks before you need to move out of your current home.
2. Be as flexible as possible
The more restrictive your search criteria are, the more difficult it will be for you to find a pet-friendly property. Try to be flexible on location and property type as this will increase your chances of finding somewhere for you and your pet to live.
3. Write a CV for your pet
Provide your prospective landlord with as much information about your pet as you can. Include the contact details of your veterinary practice and someone who can care for your pet in an emergency. You could also include details of your pet’s last vaccinations and any flea and worming treatments they have had.
4. Get a reference for your pet
By providing a reference from your previous landlord, you can show that your pet is well behaved and has caused no problems at your previous property. This will demonstrate that you are a responsible pet owner.
5. Introduce your pet to your landlord
Meeting your pet in advance may put your landlord’s mind at ease. You could invite your landlord to your current home so they can see that your pet has caused no problems there. This is particularly important for dogs as it’s an opportunity to show your dog is well behaved.
6. Be honest, don’t sneak your pet in without permission
It’s never advisable to keep a pet in a property without the landlord’s consent. This will only lead to problems in the future and could result in the termination of your tenancy. Always be honest about your pets from the start.
7. Get written permission
If your landlord has given you permission to keep a pet in your property, make sure you get it in writing. You should ask for a clause to be added to your tenancy agreement and make sure that any ‘No Pets’ clauses are removed. This will prevent problems from arising in future.
8. Make moving day stress free for your pet
When you are ready to move into your new home, think about what you can do to make moving day as stress free as possible. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or relative to look after your pet for the day if you can.
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