Renters’ Rights Act sparks rise in pet ownership

Millions of renters have welcomed a pet or are planning to get one following the Renters’ Rights Act.

Data from Simply Business reveals, since the Act came into force in May, nearly half of renters (44%) have taken on a pet.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, private rented sector tenants now have the right to request a pet, while landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.

Renters are paws-itively delighted

According to the data, younger renters are driving the surge, with nearly one in five (18%) 25 to 34-year-olds already welcoming a new pet within weeks of the rules coming into force, and more than a third (37%) planning to get one this year.

At the other end of the scale, appetite fades with age as 64% of over-55s say they have no plans for a pet at all.

The research claims renters are taking responsibility for pets seriously, with 93% taking active steps to protect the homes they rent against damage caused by pets.

The most common precautions are deep-cleaning the property during the tenancy (52%), fitting gates to keep pets out of certain rooms (39%) and using machine-washable sofa covers and furniture protectors (38%).

Alex Woolf, landlord insurance product lead at Simply Business, said: “Our research shows that renters are paws-itively delighted to welcome new pets into their homes.

“It’s reassuring to see how responsibly renters are approaching this shift, but even with precautions, unexpected damage can happen. With pet deposits no longer an option under recent reforms, landlords need alternative solutions.”

Pet amendments rejections

The government has confirmed landlords will be able to choose to keep money from the deposit to cover repair costs caused by pet damage.

However, landlords will not be able to claim for the same damage twice, such as from insurance and the deposit.

As previously reported, by Property118, an amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill to allow landlords to take a separate pet damage deposit of up to three weeks’ rent on top of the usual deposit cap was rejected.

The government also removed the right for landlords to require pet damage insurance.