Not a petty problem

23/11/2011

By Beverley Brown. Dog and cat owners are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a rented property, even if they make purrfect tenants otherwise.

The Dogs Trust animal charity reports the number of people handing their dogs into rescue centres has increased by 56% over the past five years – and much of this is down to private landlords banning tenants from having pets.

“With demand currently exceeding supply, landlords know they can secure tenants who tick every box on the checklist, and that includes not having a pet,” says Neil Thomson, manager of the Glasgow branch of residential letting agency, DJ Alexander.

While some landlords may agree to a compromise, Thomson advises tenants not to smuggle animals in without consent, as it could result in the lease being terminated or the deposit being used to pay for cleaning.

Paradoxically, the ‘no pet’ rule is applied by landlords who are themselves animal lovers and may have a dog or cat – or both – in their own homes. “This is one more sign of the growing maturity of the rental market,” Mr Thomson added. “Until relatively recently, many landlords were slow to appreciate that the tastes governing their own living environment differed from a rental property purchased as an investment. The rule is not applied out of prejudice towards household pets; it is simply a sign that the typical private landlord is becoming increasingly diligent about the value of his or her property as a letting investment.”

THE HERALD, 23 November 2011