Pets and tenants -Should I allow a tenant to bring in a pet?
Given the choice most buy to let landlords would just say No to any pet larger than a goldfish.
But anyone in buy to let who refuses pets may be reducing the size of their market unnecessarily.
And, you can put safeguards in place to protect your property investment.
Firstly, if you are letting a flat or any property governed by local housing or estate regulations, remember to check the terms of the head lease to see if there is a prohibition on pets. About 30% will have such a prohibition.
Safegaurds if you Allow Pets
Assuming you allow pets, what sort of safeguards can you put in place to ensure that little Fido does not ruin your investment property and end up costing you money?
First, it’s best to only let unfurnished property to pet owners.
Second, set out within the terms of the tenancy agreement exactly which types of pets are acceptable and which aren’t.
Third, be quite specific and state the breed as well as the age and even the name of the pet. Specify how many pets will be allowed.
Fourth, ask for references for the pet from a previous landlord to confirm that the pet is a suitable “tenant” for your property.
Fifth, ask for a higher deposit to protect against any damage. Ask for at least 6 weeks, more if it’s furnished property.
Sixth, consider asking for a non returnable flea deposit which will be used at the end of the tenancy to get rid of any possible infestations.
Seventh, request in the tenancy agreement, that the pet is not in the house at times when workmen are on site to do maintenance or when prospective tenants come to view at the end of the tenancy. (However, there is a risk that this could fall foul of being an unfair term if tested in court.)
CHECK OUT OUR SITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
ONE TO ONE PRIVATE CONSULTING click here: Property Mentoring
NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors:
Next Property Investing Seminar and Networking Event
We have GREAT OFFERS on a range of services and products for landlords too; click here including landlords insurance, tenant referencing, tenancy agreements and more: Services and Products for Landlords
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
TO READ PAST CLIENT TESTIMONIALS – both commercial and private click here: Testimonials
BUY “SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY LETTING” click here: Buy the Book at Amazon
ABOUT US
LettingFocus.com are the experts on landlord issues and I’m David Lawrenson. I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years and am author of “Successful Property Letting” – which has been the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
We help landlords and property investors make money in property by coaching them in ways that work, which are ethical and which involve minimal risk.
At LettingFocus we pride ourselves on giving independent unbiased buy to let advice for property buyers and landlords both on a one to one mentoring and coaching basis as well as through occasional group seminars.
Property syndicates and property advice in the UK is still largely unregulated and what counts as “advice” is too often more about making the promoter money than giving useful information to the investor.
With no link to property firms, developers or bridging loan providers, at LettingFocus, we can advise on where and what type of property to buy for investment, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. We also show you how to manage tenants properly and in ways that take up as little of your time as possible.
We also do consultancy and writing for companies such as banks, local authorities, property websites and social housing providers – helping them with their landlord or buy to let facing strategy.
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
SELLING STUFF TO LANDLORDS – YOU COULD BE A PARTNER ON OUR AFFILIATE PROGRAMME. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED WITH OUR LATEST BLOGS?
Over on the right hand side under all the previous blog entries you will find a button which says “Site Feed.” Simply copy the site feed link into your News Reader or News Aggregator.
If you have a website & are thinking of reproducing material here, that’s fine but we DO require a link to the blog to be included, including also all the links in this section. (The full article including all links must be available to ALL VIEWERS of your site and not restricted.)
TO VIEW RELATED POSTS select a “Category” at the bottom of this page.
But anyone in buy to let who refuses pets may be reducing the size of their market unnecessarily.
And, you can put safeguards in place to protect your property investment.
Firstly, if you are letting a flat or any property governed by local housing or estate regulations, remember to check the terms of the head lease to see if there is a prohibition on pets. About 30% will have such a prohibition.
Safegaurds if you Allow Pets
Assuming you allow pets, what sort of safeguards can you put in place to ensure that little Fido does not ruin your investment property and end up costing you money?
First, it’s best to only let unfurnished property to pet owners.
Second, set out within the terms of the tenancy agreement exactly which types of pets are acceptable and which aren’t.
Third, be quite specific and state the breed as well as the age and even the name of the pet. Specify how many pets will be allowed.
Fourth, ask for references for the pet from a previous landlord to confirm that the pet is a suitable “tenant” for your property.
Fifth, ask for a higher deposit to protect against any damage. Ask for at least 6 weeks, more if it’s furnished property.
Sixth, consider asking for a non returnable flea deposit which will be used at the end of the tenancy to get rid of any possible infestations.
Seventh, request in the tenancy agreement, that the pet is not in the house at times when workmen are on site to do maintenance or when prospective tenants come to view at the end of the tenancy. (However, there is a risk that this could fall foul of being an unfair term if tested in court.)
CHECK OUT OUR SITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
ONE TO ONE PRIVATE CONSULTING click here: Property Mentoring
NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors:
Next Property Investing Seminar and Networking Event
We have GREAT OFFERS on a range of services and products for landlords too; click here including landlords insurance, tenant referencing, tenancy agreements and more: Services and Products for Landlords
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
TO READ PAST CLIENT TESTIMONIALS – both commercial and private click here: Testimonials
BUY “SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY LETTING” click here: Buy the Book at Amazon
ABOUT US
LettingFocus.com are the experts on landlord issues and I’m David Lawrenson. I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years and am author of “Successful Property Letting” – which has been the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
We help landlords and property investors make money in property by coaching them in ways that work, which are ethical and which involve minimal risk.
At LettingFocus we pride ourselves on giving independent unbiased buy to let advice for property buyers and landlords both on a one to one mentoring and coaching basis as well as through occasional group seminars.
Property syndicates and property advice in the UK is still largely unregulated and what counts as “advice” is too often more about making the promoter money than giving useful information to the investor.
With no link to property firms, developers or bridging loan providers, at LettingFocus, we can advise on where and what type of property to buy for investment, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. We also show you how to manage tenants properly and in ways that take up as little of your time as possible.
We also do consultancy and writing for companies such as banks, local authorities, property websites and social housing providers – helping them with their landlord or buy to let facing strategy.
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
SELLING STUFF TO LANDLORDS – YOU COULD BE A PARTNER ON OUR AFFILIATE PROGRAMME. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED WITH OUR LATEST BLOGS?
Over on the right hand side under all the previous blog entries you will find a button which says “Site Feed.” Simply copy the site feed link into your News Reader or News Aggregator.
If you have a website & are thinking of reproducing material here, that’s fine but we DO require a link to the blog to be included, including also all the links in this section. (The full article including all links must be available to ALL VIEWERS of your site and not restricted.)
TO VIEW RELATED POSTS select a “Category” at the bottom of this page.
Labels: landlords and pets, Pets, tenancy agreement pet clause, tenants and pets
This entry was posted by lettingfocus, on
Monday, July 09, 2007.
