Pet Rental charges are becoming too high

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Recently welcomed changes have been made to stop landlords and/or agents charging administration fees, referencing fees etc. This also meant landlords couldn’t take any additional deposit for pets however this has turned out worse for pet owners.

It has caused an additional problem, landlords have become greedy (nothing new here) and charging tenants obscene amounts for pet rent.

It’s hard enough to find pet friendly places as it is, it seems that the new build flats are the only ones that are advertising as pet friendly. After viewing advertised “pet friendly” apartments which are already more expensive than others in Manchester they also want to charge pet rent on top of the monthly rent.

Examples of this are a 5% rent increase on top of advertised at GreenGate Manchester, M3 7NL.

£65 a month extra per pet at Anaconda Cut, 100 GreenGate, M3 7NG.

Others I’ve encountered aren’t so extreme, around £25 a month which is the limit I’d be willing to pay. Our pet has caused no damage and I’d welcome to show this to a future landlord by letting them inspect our current flat but this isn’t really ideal is it? They probably wouldn’t even take us up on that offer due to the greed. 

Currently on the websites for both developments mentioned above being pet friendly is advertised as a perk along with the on-site gym and concierge, both of which you don’t pay extra for on top of monthly rent payments so why include being pet friendly as a perk when realistically it’s an additional cost? Are additional costs perks? I wouldn’t say so. 

Landlords and their agents should be upfront and honest about what the additional monthly charges for having a pet is. 

I feel that landlords have taken advantage of the situation and know us pet owners have no other or very limited options.

Can anything be done about this recent trend?

Thanks

diggingdude

In all honesty renters shouldn't be pet owners without accepting they will pay for new carpets, deep cleaning, skirting boards etc when they move. Pets leave smells and bugs, why should a LL pay for this? 

[Deleted User]

diggingdude said:

In all honesty renters shouldn't be pet owners without accepting they will pay for new carpets, deep cleaning, skirting boards etc when they move. Pets leave smells and bugs, why should a LL pay for this? 

They shouldn’t this is why I feel a refundable deposit is fairer in this situation but this is no longer possible.

For those in rental properties with pets that don’t leave damage, smells or bugs, that are cleaned appropriately at the end of the tenancy it’s fairer to have a deposit that can be returned than taking £65 a month that you’ll never see again.

diggingdude

A home is never truly clean after a pet, carpets etc always retain a smell imo (written as a pet/dog lover). Problem is landlords have been hammered financially (I'm not one btw) so can't afford to take risks that tenants aren't dodgy pet owners. It's a sad world

AdrianC

PetRentalHelp said:

diggingdude said:

In all honesty renters shouldn't be pet owners without accepting they will pay for new carpets, deep cleaning, skirting boards etc when they move. Pets leave smells and bugs, why should a LL pay for this? 

They shouldn’t this is why I feel a refundable deposit is fairer in this situation but this is no longer possible.

Exactly. It's no longer legal for a landlord to take that extra deposit to cover the extra wear and damage. That has to have a knock-on effect somewhere, and this is it.

For those in rental properties with pets that don’t leave damage, smells or bugs...

Cuddly toys don't count. (...and I speak as a pet owner there...)

[Deleted User]

AdrianC said:

PetRentalHelp said:

diggingdude said:

In all honesty renters shouldn't be pet owners without accepting they will pay for new carpets, deep cleaning, skirting boards etc when they move. Pets leave smells and bugs, why should a LL pay for this? 

They shouldn’t this is why I feel a refundable deposit is fairer in this situation but this is no longer possible.

Exactly. It's no longer legal for a landlord to take that extra deposit to cover the extra wear and damage. That has to have a knock-on effect somewhere, and this is it.

For those in rental properties with pets that don’t leave damage, smells or bugs...

Cuddly toys don't count. (...and I speak as a pet owner there...)

Feel free to come round and find any damage caused by our pet. I bet you couldn’t find any. 

Seems like the replies here are from people instantly claiming not to be landlords, suspicious... 

John_

You won’t notice it, as it’s your pet, but any cat or dog will leave a mark on a property. We had cats and despite having a very robust property (200 year-old warehouse conversion) they did still manage to mark the wooden floorboards and some of the wooden supports.
If renting with pets costs what you feel is an unfair price then you could maybe look into renting out properties yourself to pet owners, and make a profit at a lower price.

diggingdude

Trust me I'm not a LL, but I go into people's houses every day and can always smell the pets

theartfullodger

PetRentalHelp said:

It has caused an additional problem, landlords have become greedy (nothing new here) and charging tenants obscene amounts for pet rent.

Can anything be done about this recent trend?

Thanks

Can be done? Yes, ban any landlord charging such amounts of £££ from renting property.  Would that work? Dunno.

[Deleted User]

For those that saying they are pet lovers or those that have had a pet. 

Do you think an amount per pet of, for example, £65 X 12 Months = £780 a year is acceptable charge just to hand over or is a refundable deposit a better option?

edit: Just to add if the pet has caused damages I bet this money to make repairs isn’t taken from the pet rent charges made throughout the tenancy, I bet it comes from the deposit taken at the start. 

diggingdude

But you don't have to rent that property. Find a pet loving landlord? I wouldn't pay those fees but then I didn't have a pet in a rental and am only now looking to get one