A coalition of housing and animal welfare groups has warned that changes to rental legislation could deter landlords from accepting tenants with pets.
AdvoCATS, along with 47 organisations including Landlord Action and Propertymark, has written to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook urging the government to reinstate a provision for pet damage insurance in the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The measure, originally included in both the Conservatives’ Renters’ (Reform) Bill and Labour’s draft legislation, would have allowed landlords to require tenants to take out insurance to cover potential damage caused by animals. It was removed in a recent government amendment.
Concerns Over Landlord Costs
AdvoCATS founder Jen Berezai said the decision would make landlords less likely to accept pets, particularly smaller landlords with limited resources.
“Most landlords have fewer than five properties and many are accidental landlords with little financial buffer,” she said. “If they feel exposed to the risk of unrecoverable costs, they will choose tenants without pets.”
Although the Renters’ Rights Bill gives tenants the right to request a pet, landlords can refuse only with good reason. Campaigners argue that without insurance, landlords will exercise that right more often.
Insurance vs. Pet Rent
Supporters of the proposal say insurance offers a cheaper and more effective safeguard than “pet rent,” where tenants pay an additional monthly charge. According to research by The Lettings Hub, more than half of tenants who pay pet rent are charged over £50 a month.
“An insurance policy is linked to the property, not the pet, and provides immediate cover,” Ms Berezai said. “It is cost-effective for tenants and offers reassurance for landlords.”
Industry Prepared
Several insurers, including Total Landlord Insurance, have already introduced products covering pet damage in anticipation of the legislation.
AdvoCATS described the government’s reversal as “baffling” and said the change risks leaving pet-owning tenants at a disadvantage in an already competitive rental market.