20^th Sep 2019

According to the Guardian newspaper, there is an ever increasing number of landlords charging tenants an additional cost, which has now been labelled as a 'pet rent,' of as much as £50 a month.

The newspaper is claiming that many landlords are charging the 'pet rent' so as to make up for the shortcomings caused by the tenants fees ban.

Darren Baxter, a renter with a family and two dogs is looking for a home in York, he told the newspaper: “In certain letting agencies it seems to be a standard term in agreements."

He added: “It seems exorbitant given the potential damage a pet can cause. We went to one place where they wanted a reference for the dog. That was ridiculous.”

A letting agent said that the new practise of pet rents had only started in June when landlords were stopped from being able to charge fees for cleaning properties at the end of a tenancy; and/or not being able to be paid an additional deposit for a pet, because of the maximum deposit capped at five weeks rent.

Before the Tenants Fees Act came into force in June, landlords were able to ask tenants for pet deposits in case of damage; however with 'pet rents' tenants will end up paying more as they will not be able to reclaim a pet deposit back at the end of a tenancy.

Karolina Misiukiewicz, who works at an estate agent in Cheltenham, said: “The only way to do it is to charge higher rent.”

Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: "The government was told time and time again, that a Fees Ban would lead to higher rents.

"At the end of the day why shouldn't agents and landlords cover their properties in case of damage by pets?

"And yes, the majority of pet owners are respectful; however there are always a few that cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to properties."




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