Landlords are more and more demanding that pet-owning tenants present “references” for his or her animals, together with images and a bio, after the pandemic led to a surge in renters proudly owning pets.
Letting brokers instructed i they’ve observed a “new trend” of pet homeowners “taking creative approaches” to securing a property in a aggressive rental market.
Harriet Scanlan, lettings supervisor at London-based property company Antony Roberts, stated some landlords nonetheless refuse to just accept pets, however others have turn out to be extra open to the concept if the proprietor can present a reference from a earlier landlord.
“I have had two or three physical pet references with a photo of the pet. That’s definitely a new trend post-lockdown,” she stated.
Emlyn Akoto-Dwemoh, space director at John D Wood & Co, stated pet references “have become an integral part of the traditional landlord reference” for them, with the method involving asking earlier landlords or brokers “about the behaviour and impact of pets on their properties”.
He stated some potential tenants hope to swing issues of their favour by “submitting a pet bio or profile complete with an irresistibly cute picture” that “aims to tug on the heartstrings of landlords and property managers”.
Jay Clarke, Lettings Area Manager at Johns&Co, stated some tenants additionally go the “extra mile” by “crafting detailed paragraphs about their pets, outlining their behaviours and temperaments”.
Pet possession surged throughout lockdown, with many individuals utilizing the extended interval at home as an excuse to turn out to be first-time canine or cat homeowners.
It is at the moment as much as a landlord whether or not their tenant is allowed to have a pet or not and plenty of landlords take a blanket “no pet” method.
Renting campaigners have lengthy complained that this follow is discriminatory in opposition to tenants, who needs to be given the identical alternative to personal a pet as householders.
The Government has proposed adjustments to the foundations round pet possession in leases below the upcoming Renters Reform Bill.
Under the brand new regulation, which can carry widespread adjustments to renting in England, a tenant needs to be allowed to maintain a pet except the owner “reasonably refuses”.
