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At times, owning a pet can be a challenge for people who need a rental property to live in. Most landlords have a no-pet policy because of the fear of the potential damage that a pet can cause to the property.
Since the start of the pandemic, thousands of people have let furry friends into their lives. And due to the situation, many renters have long been excluded from owning a pet due to landlords' no pet policy.
Now, the government has set new guidance to make it easier for a renter in England to keep pets.
How the new guidance by the government will work and will affect the rules of the landlords in England?
The Model Tenancy Agreement is the recommended contract for landlords by the government. Under the amended Model Tenancy agreement announced by the government on the 28th January 2021, landlords will no longer be able to issue a blanket ban on pets. Consent for pets will be the default position. If a tenant will make a pet request to the landlord and the landlord wants to turn down the request, the landlord will need to oppose in writing within 28 days from the day the tenant made a ‘pet request’ and must give a good reason for opposing the request.
The government has made these changes due to the current situation as only 7% of the landlords are offering pet-friendly properties. These changes will mean more landlords will need to cater to responsible pet owners. With the pandemic, many more adults are welcoming pets into their lives.
Is the model tenancy agreement compulsory?’
The Model Tenancy Agreement is the recommended by the government to the landlords who are letting out their properties in England. It should not be used for social housing, business lettings, room rentals, and commercial properties.
This model tenancy agreement is not compulsory, there is no legal requirement for the landlords to use this agreement, so landlords can make their own tenancy agreement or use a different template for their contracts, and they can still reject pets. The model was produced by the government to provide a fair balance between the interest of both the landlords and the tenants.
On the other hand, landlords who use the Model Tenancy Agreement contract will need to object against tenants who would want to have pets in the property by providing a good reason. For example, there are dog breeds that are too aggressive or too destructive so this could consider in the reason.
But tenants who are responsible with well-behaved pets have the chance to secure more leases if the landlord is using the Model Tenancy Agreement.
If you are a landlord in London, we are here to help. Bluestone Properties is an estate agency and letting agency in south London. Feel free to contact us on 0208 355 3405, email us at info@bluestoneproperties.co.uk
