Renters Reform Bill Landlords To Be Forced to Allow Pets

Secretary of State for Housing, Michael Gove, has confirmed that landlords will be required to let tenants keep pets by law.

The Renters Reform Bill 2022 was announced on 11^th May 2022 and the ‘white paper’ was released today ready for its 1^st reading in the House of Commons.

The ‘A fairer private rented sector’ white paper sets out the government’s vision for a private rented sector that is fit for future tenancy market.. This white paper includes plans to:

• Abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and introduce a simpler tenancy structure
• Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time
• Introduce a new Property Portal to help landlords understand their obligations
• Introduce a housing ombudsman covering all PRS landlords and providing redress for tenants

In addition, landlords will be required to allow tenants to have their ‘four legged friends’ live with them.

Comment

Many people took on pets during lockdown both for company, to give us a purpose and also for exercise.  This was no bad thing.  That said, it is now difficult for tenants to find property that allow pets.

The directors of this website, as landlords, we welcome the Bill.  We already work hard to ensure our properties are fit for purpose and indeed have spent significant amounts since buying those properties to improve energy efficient to keep energy costs down for tenants.  We also only rent properties to local workers or indeed people on benefits.  In addition, all but one of our properties allow pets.  We are delighted that the law will force the freeholder to now allow pets in that final property for our tenants and future tenants.

That said, we also respect that having pets causes additional damage and wear and tear.  By either charging an additional rent to cover wear and tear or being allowed to require a tenant to have ‘pet damage insurance’ is welcome.