Endsleigh and Lets With Pets Encourage Pet Friendly Properties!

There is good news for devoted pet owners struggling to find rented accommodation with their best friends. A specialist insurance policy is available through Endsleigh Insurance Brokers and Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, to encourage more landlords to accept pets in their properties, making it easier for pet owners to rent with their pets.   

The Specialist Landlords Insurance policy – in partnership with Lets with Pets is to be launched in May 2013 and will be available to individual landlords through Dogs Trust’s Lets with Pets scheme: www.letswithpets.org.uk. The policy aims to give landlords the peace of mind that pet damage will be covered as standard.

Clare Kivlehan, Dogs Trust Lets with Pets Manager, says: 

“As more people are turning to renting, we feel that pet owners shouldn’t have to fall short of finding the perfect property. Our research has shown that over three quarters of pet owners experience difficulties finding privately rented accommodation that allows pets. It is unfair that some responsible owners are forced into giving up their pets because of accommodation issues.”

The insurance policy created by Endsleigh and Lets with Pets has been established due to overwhelming demand from Landlords who are eager to branch out and rent to pet owners, but want the reassurance of specialist buildings and contents insurance. Tellingly, a recent survey found that 88% of landlords said they would rent to pet owners if there was an insurance product available covering pet damage.

The Lets with Pets scheme, run by Dogs Trust, aims to make private renting with pets easier for pet owners, landlords, and letting agencies by providing practical advice and a range of free resources. 

Sean Sage, Endsleigh’s Let Property Sector Manager, commented:

“With over 30 year’s experience developing property insurance solutions for the landlords sector, Endsleigh is committed to providing specialist insurance protection to meet all the requirements of buy to let landlords. Often the perceived problem of pet damage is the major obstacle for landlords when it comes to renting to pet owners. We are delighted to be working with Dogs Trust and Lets with Pets to provide comprehensive insurance cover for landlords to put their mind at rest which will ultimately help pet-owning tenants.”   

 

The new insurance policy will be available to individual landlords and cover will include accidental pet damage as standard, 120 days unoccupancy, theft by tenants, £2m property owners’ liability, malicious damage by tenants and landlords contents. 

For more information on the Lets with Pets and Endsleigh Pet Insurance Policy, go to: www.endsleigh.co.uk/letswithpets or contact letswithpets@endsleigh.co.uk

 

For further information and advice about the Lets with Pets scheme, please visit www.letswithpets.org.uk

The Facts:  

The Lets with Pets scheme makes the process of privately renting with pets easier for tenants, landlords and letting agencies by providing practical tools and advice for each step of the letting process. The scheme encourages all letting agencies who are members of a professional body to sign up as a Lets with Pets supporter.

A range of free resources are available to Lets with Pets supporters to help them successfully let properties to pet owners:  

• Advertising on the Lets with Pets website www.letswithpets.org.uk
•  A simple to use toolkit including:

         -  Information leaflets explaining the scheme to landlords

         -  Information and advice leaflets for pet owners

         -  Advice about tenancy amendments and introducing a pet policy

         -  Easy to use documents including a pet checklist and pet information form

• Use of our Lets with Pets promotional products and logos

Will the credit crunch help those looking for Lets with Pets?

Since the start of the current financial crisis, the housing market has been used to track peaks and troughs (or forecast doom and gloom). One thing that's very clear is that people are renting more - either because lending is such that it's impossible to get a toe on the ownership ladder, or because it makes more sense to take advantage of lower rents and abundant rental properties.

But what about those people with pets?

We've mentioned Lets with Pets before, and we'll probably mention it again! This is because our research has shown that there is still a very real problem finding somewhere to live if you're renting and you have animals in the family. We reported last summer that 75% of landlords refuse pet-owning tenants, and we're working hard to try and change that with a website that encourages landlords and letting agents to see the benefit in renting to pet owners, as well as teaching them how to protect their investment with sensible pet policies. The site also helps potential tenants with tips for talking around a hesitant landlord.

Now that rental costs are low, it seems unlikely that landlords would want to turn down the chance to keep their property full. Pet owners can also offer an extra deposit to cover any potential pet-specific damage, and it's hard to turn down that kind of security in these troubled times. Is this a golden opportunity to change the anti-pet perception amongst many letting agents and landlords by demonstrating to them that pet owners can be excellent, responsible tenants to?

Here's a reminder of some of our tips for helping to get you and your pet into rental accommodation; you can find out more on the Lets with Pets website.

• Write a CV for your pet - here's our example for Bo Obama!
• Follow that CV up with references from a past landlord or your vet
  
• Offer an extra deposit to cover potential pet-related damage, just in case
• Try and arrange a meeting between your landlord and your pet to prove how well behaved they are.

Lets with Pets: What to include on a pet CV when renting

A few days ago I wrote about the launch of Dogs Trust's new microsite, Lets with Pets, which is an information resource and campaigning hub to encourage more landlords to accept tenants with pets.

The response was impressive; many people told us about their struggles, and sent the site link to their local council or community sites. We thank them heartily for their assistance in getting the message out there.

Pet CVs are an idea which we're really hoping will catch on. Much of the problem with letting is that the landlord (or, more commonly, letting agent) is a bit panicky about issues like furniture damage or noise complaints that may arise. Putting together a resume of your pet's health and behaviour record can go a long way towards putting fears at rest. So we thought we'd turn to one of the most famous dogs in the world, and imagine what would be on his CV. Presenting... Bo Obama!


Click image to enlarge

Lets With Pets: Everything about renting with animals

Have you ever tried to move house with your pets and found that landlords are not keen to rent to you? Are you a landlord concerned about renting to tenants with animals? Everything you ever needed to know can now be found on Dogs Trust's new microsite:

Lets with Pets.

There's a wealth of advice and information for pet owners, landlords and letting agents including ways that tenants can persuade a landlord to rent to them and how landlords can protect themselves from any problems. For example:

You're a landlord worried about potential damage to furnishings / decor from a pet. What can you and the tenant do to get past this?

Landlord: Charge / accept an extra deposit, possibly non-refundable, to specifically cover pet damage. Be prepared to meet the pet in question, and ask questions about their training and behaviour.

Tenant: Offer an extra deposit, and introduce your pet to the landlord to show they're well-behaved. Write a 'pet CV' for your pet with references from previous landlords (where possible), details of vaccinations, flea treatments etc and any training classes they've attended.

For more ideas like these, information about the law and to help the campaign for more landlords to accept four-footed (or scaly, or feathered...!) tenants, visit the website and spread the word about Lets with Pets!

Lets With Pets Results: 75% of dogs BANNED

The results are in from our Lets With Pets Survey, which many of you filled out and commented on. The report revealed that a whopping 75% - three quarters - of dogs are banned from private rental properties.

With the threat of recession forcing increasing numbers of Brits to downsize or rent property, and the credit crunch affecting pet owners, there is a very real risk that thousands of pets could be abandoned or handed over for rehoming to charities such as Dogs Trust.

We are accustomed to receiving many dogs from owners reluctantly handed them over as a result of being unable to find pet-friendly rental properties. Several of our Rehoming Centres have already reported increases in calls about help with vet bills or rehoming due to financial woes.

In response, Dogs Trust has launched Lets With Pets, a campaign that will see us working with the lettings industry to demonstrate how pet inclusive tenancy agreements can benefit both landlord and tenant.

Over 1,400 responded to the survey throughout June. The results were alarming:

* 78% of pet owners experienced difficulties finding privately rented accommodation that allowed pets

* 54% did not find anywhere that allowed pets

* 14% kept their pet without landlord’s knowledge or consent

* 11.4% rented an unsuitable property in order to keep their pet

* 8.5% rehomed their pet to friends, family or a rescue centre

* 8.2% bought property, did not move or are still looking

* 0.4% had their pet euthanised

* 47% of landlords gave tenants no reason why pets were banned

* The UK’s least pet-friendly landlords live in the West Midlands – 83% of pet owners had difficulty finding accommodation

* Northern Ireland has the most pet-friendly landlords – but 66% of owners still have problems finding rented accommodation

* Things are no better for other pets – 65% of cats are banned and 10% of private landlords even ban fish!

Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin explains:

“Pet owners who need to rent privately are being forced to live in unsuitable properties, or rent with their pets without consent from their landlord. Even though a dog is for life, in some extreme cases owners are having to give up their beloved pets or else face becoming homeless.

‘We are consulting with the Association of Residential Lettings Agencies (ARLA), other professional housing bodies and letting agents to develop Lets with Pets, a UK-wide campaign encouraging landlords to accept pet-owning tenants and help owners find the elusive pet-accepting landlord.”

Five Top Tips for Finding Pet-Friendly Accomodation

1. Write a ‘C.V.’ for your pet, so that your landlord can objectively consider if your dog may be suitable as a tenant. Consider including the following points:

* Your dog’s breed, size, age and activity level.
* If your dog is a purebred, include the breed’s positive breed traits.
* Try to highlight your dog’s history of good behaviour and house training.
* If your dog has attended and completed training classes.
* If your dog is neutered.

2. Get a pet reference from your previous landlord or letting agent and offer to pay a larger deposit to cover any damage.

3. Supply the details of your vet and provide proof of up to date vaccinations, worming and flea treatments

4. Tell your landlord how long your dog will be left alone in the property on a regular basis. It will help if you are able to state whether you will take your dog to work, arrange for day care or be at home with your dog most of the time

5. Stress that dogs are very effective as a burglar deterrent!


If you have any stories about successful or unsuccessful pet rental or have more tips to add (as a landlord or tenant), please add your comments below.

Lets With Pets: Tell us about your rental experiences

Here at Dogs Trust we hear a lot of stories about the difficulties people face when trying to rent accommodation that will accept their pet (dogs or otherwise).

As part of our Lets With Pets campaign, we're trying to establish the scale of the problem, so we're looking for you to tell us about your past and present experiences.

Our survey should take no more than a couple of minutes, and it will provide us with extremely valuable information for our campaign. Please help us to help future pet owners who are struggling to find appropriate housing or even having to give up their pets because of housing restrictions.

Thank you!