The House of Lords yesterday backed an amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill to require tenants keeping pets to pay an extra deposit to cover any damage to a rented property.
The Renter’s Rights Bill, which is currently going through the House of Lords, will allow tenants to request to have a pet, and landlords will not be able to ‘unreasonably’ refuse.
A previous requirement for tenants keeping a pet to take out a specific insurance to cover damage by the animal was dropped by the government. However, Lord de Clifford – who is also director of a veterinary practice – proposed the pet damage deposit of an additional three weeks’ rent as a deposit.
David Smith, property litigation partner at Spector Constant & Williams, said: “The House of Lords’ decision to reject the removal of a dedicated protection for pet-related damage is a welcome and sensible intervention. While encouraging pet ownership is important, it must be balanced against the legitimate interests of landlords in preserving their property.
“The existing five-week cap on deposits was never designed to account for the additional risks pets can introduce. Replacing the now-abandoned insurance requirement with a modest, refundable pet deposit strikes a fair compromise, offering landlords reassurance while still supporting responsible pet ownership.
“Sadly, this amendment while a pragmatic recognition of the realities of property management, is not supported by the government and, like others pushed through by the Lords is extremely unlikely to survive into the final Bill.”
House of Lords – Renters Right Bill, day two: legislation must be ‘fit for purpose’
