Landlords warn they may have to BAN renters from having pets due to end of letting agent fees

PRIVATE landlords have warned the ban on charging letting agents’ fees to tenants could result in pets being barred from rental properties entirely.

Under the new government plans landlords will be unable to charge renters more than a month's rent for the security deposit.

But landlords who allow tenants to keep pets often demand a higher deposit to cover any potential damage caused by the pet.

The National Landlords’ Association (NLA) says the cap on deposits will prevent landlords from doing this, leaving Fluffy and Fido and their owners out on the streets.

Renters have long complained about the fees letting agents charge at the beginning of a tenancy, with many facing hundreds of pounds when they move home.

The proposals, first announced in November’s autumn statement, will see letting agents and landlords banned from charging tenants fees to set up a tenancy.

The plans were confirmed in last week's Queen's Speech when the government confirmed the new draft tenants' bill will be brought forward.

Landlords will still be able to charge tenants a security deposit up to a maximum of a month’s rent, a holding deposit capped at a week’s rent and default fees for late payment of rent.

It’s the stipulation that the security deposit will be capped at a maximum of a month’s rent which as has led to predictions of doom and gloom for dog and cat owners.

“While not the intention, the Government’s plans for imposing this one-month cap on security deposits will reduce landlords’ willingness to accept pets by removing their flexibility to take a higher deposit to cover for pet damage,” a NLA spokesperson said.

“Previous research from the NLA showed that almost half (47 per cent) were unwilling to allow pets, with 41 per cent of those citing the reason as potential property damage.”

The Dogs Trust advises landlords to either take a higher deposit or include a “professional cleaning on move-out” clause in the tenancy agreement in order to mitigate the financial risk of property damage.

But the government’s proposals would spell the end of both options, potentially leaving pet-owning tenants out in the cold.

Seb Klier, campaigns manager at Generation Rent says: “Private renters should have a right to keep pets as much as any other person, and shouldn’t have to choose between that and finding a place to live.

"Landlords need to start respecting the rights of tenants to make a place their home, and stop treating them as potential problems before they even get the keys to a property.”

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