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Most landlords state “no pets” when advertising rental properties. The reason being pets can cause untold damage and even if the tenant has paid a deposit, the sum may not cover the cost of replacing carpets, skirting boards, doors, and anything else destroyed by an animal. These days, however, more and more tenants are looking for pet friendly properties – and are prepared to pay a premium for them.
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Rise in Dog Owning Tenants
According to a London letting specialist, EJ Harris, a huge rise in the number of tenants looking for a property where dogs are welcome has led to a corresponding rise in price premiums on deposits for such properties.
Ten years ago, there were no enquiries from tenants with a dog, but this year 30 per cent of all prospective tenants have a dog in tow. Unfortunately there are not enough central London properties where dogs are welcome – 40% of all prime flats in central London have “no dogs” written into the head lease. The landlords who do allow pets are now commanding huge deposits to cover any unforeseen damage during the tenancy.
Cleaning Payments
For example, on a two bed flat in central London costing £1,000 per week, a dog-free tenant would have to pay a £5,000 deposit whereas a tenant with a dog would be charged £10,000. Many landlords also write a cleaning clause into the tenancy, which requires the tenant to make a non-refundable payment (as well as their deposit) towards the cost of a professional cleaning contractor at the end of a tenancy,
