MHCLG will not consider an exemption of the tenant fees ban for pets

MHCLG will not consider an exemption of the tenant fees ban for pets

17:51 PM, 7th September 2021, About 3 years ago 11

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Tory MP Andrew Rosindell sent a letter backed by Labour’s Andrew Gwynne, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey to the Housing Secretary asking for the Tenants fees act Legislation to be amended and reduce unnecessarily obstacles to renters owning pets.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Eddie Hughes confirmed that no new exemptions of the tenant fees act would be considered. Hughes said: “The Tenant Fees Act 2019 introduced a cap of five weeks’ rent for properties with an annual rent below £50,000, and banned most letting fees charged to tenants.

“The five week cap should be considered the maximum, rather than the default amount charged.

“This approach should therefore accommodate private renters who wish to keep pets, without the need for a separate pet deposit. The government has no plans  at this time  to amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019.”

Another spokesperson for the MHCLG told PoliticsHome: “Our changes to the Model Tenancy Agreement will help make it easier for tenants with pets to rent privately by removing restrictions on responsible tenants with pets and encouraging landlords to offer greater flexibility.

“They aim to strike a balance between protecting landlords’ property from being damaged by badly behaved pets, whilst ensuring responsible tenants are not unfairly penalised.”


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Comments

Monty Bodkin

18:36 PM, 7th September 2021, About 3 years ago

“This approach should therefore accommodate private renters who wish to keep pets, without the need for a separate pet deposit."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Or do what most landlords now have to do -increase the rent.
Another £25-£50 a month, non refundable rather than a refundable £250 pet deposit.
Clueless tw*t.

Monty Bodkin

18:41 PM, 7th September 2021, About 3 years ago

“Our changes to the Model Tenancy Agreement will help make it easier for tenants with pets to rent privately by removing restrictions on responsible tenants with pets and encouraging landlords to offer greater flexibility."

'Cos landlords frequently use the worthless tripe that's the Model Tenancy Agreement.

What planet are they on?

Monty Bodkin

19:11 PM, 7th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Freda Blogs

9:55 AM, 8th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Government isn’t listening.

Even though I don’t agree with the proposal by MP Andrew Rosindell, at least in this latest letter to the Housing Secretary he admitted the 'unintended consequences' of the Tenant Fees Act and its impact for pet owners.

Well Government, start listening: more unintended consequences –you had an opportunity to fix the problem, and you declined it. As 5 weeks’ deposit in total is just not enough to cover my risks, I will no longer allow pets in my properties - and I believe 000s of landlords feel the same way. How is that helping pet owners?

PS Its the PRIVATE Rented Sector. I own my properties, not the Government (but that may be just a matter of time…)

Ian Narbeth

11:14 AM, 8th September 2021, About 3 years ago

“Our changes to the Model Tenancy Agreement will help make it easier for tenants with pets to rent privately by removing restrictions on responsible tenants with pets and encouraging landlords to offer greater flexibility.
“They aim to strike a balance between protecting landlords’ property from being damaged by badly behaved pets, whilst ensuring responsible tenants are not unfairly penalised.”
Mr Hughes entirely misses the point. It is almost impossible for a landlord to know in advance if a particular pet is going to cause a problem or if a particular tenant is going to be a responsible owner. Even if a landlord took up a "pet reference" from a previous landlord for a particular animal, that does not mean that as the pet gets older, its behaviour (and continence) may not change dramatically.
The Minister did not add, as he might, the logical corollary to his remarks: "and we will immediately legislate so that landlords can rapidly evict irresponsible tenants with badly behaved pets so that the value of their assets and their future income is not harmed." I doubt that thought or the problems that landlords face even entered his head.
Only a fool would use the Model Tenancy Agreement - it removes the landlord's discretion with no corresponding benefit to the landlord.

NewYorkie

12:12 PM, 8th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/09/2021 - 11:14I love dogs, but must consider the condition of 'my' property.
I have finally evicted a tenant after 16 months zero rent [and ASB]. I was informed he was also keeping a dog, but wasn't able to enter the property to check, for fear of a counter-claim for harassment, etc. When I finally got my property back, the place was filthy and the carpets damaged beyond cleaning due to dog 'mess'. I had to clear everything, including furniture, and pay for a deep clean. His 5 months' deposit doesn't cover 10% of the costs to bring the place back up to its previous [excellent] condition, and I must now wait weeks while DPS consider my Statutory Declaration for the deposit return.

I will exit the PRS as soon as I can sell, but if I do get a new tenant who wants a pet, I will ask if they will agree to a voluntary pet deposit of £1000, which I will hold, not DPS. If not, no tenancy.

Ian Narbeth

12:17 PM, 8th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 08/09/2021 - 12:12Sorry to hear that New Yorkie and I trust it is only 5 weeks' deposit though I assume even 5 months' deposit would not have been enough.
Why don't you write to your MP about this and ask him or her to raise this with Robert Jenrick and Eddie Hughes and ask them if they think that 5 weeks' deposit is anywhere near adequate and if so to explain why?

Do not under any circumstances take a pet deposit that takes you over 5 weeks. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 you could be fined up to £5000, will not be able to evict using s21 and could be put on the rogue landlords' register.

NewYorkie

12:38 PM, 8th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/09/2021 - 12:17
Thanks, Ian. Yes, 5 weeks only!!!

This simply illustrates the point that landlords cannot afford to take pets, however sympathetic they may be to the prospective tenant's situation. It may be the most wonderful dog, and the tenants may be extremely responsible and careful, but dogs can't read tenancy agreements and know nothing about the cost of a carpet.

terry sullivan

12:34 PM, 9th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 07/09/2021 - 18:41
its called planet trough

Mick Roberts

11:19 AM, 11th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 07/09/2021 - 18:41
Ha ha brilliant words Monty:
Or do what most landlords now have to do -increase the rent.
Another £25-£50 a month, non refundable rather than a refundable £250 pet deposit.
Clueless tw*t.

'Cos landlords frequently use the worthless tripe that's the Model Tenancy Agreement.

And u Ian:
It is almost impossible for a landlord to know in advance if a particular pet is going to cause a problem or if a particular tenant is going to be a responsible owner
Only a fool would use the Model Tenancy Agreement - it removes the landlord's discretion with no corresponding benefit to the landlord.

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