Renting with cats

Is your Facebook feed full of cat pictures? If you love your feline friend, reading a clause in a new tenancy agreement stating that pets are not allowed can be a deal breaker. But what if your have your heart set on the property? Some letting agents and landlords are more flexible on their restrictions as it can be the difference between having a secure tenant in the property or it standing vacant for a longer period of time.

With more and more people now renting it appears that these rules are becoming less common so it may be worth your while negotiating the tenancy agreement to allow for a small pet to be kept on the property.

It is easy to understand though why landlords may not be keen for you to keep a pet in their property, whether or not it will be your home for a short lease or for many years.

The main reason is that there is more chance of damage within the property especially if it is fully furnished. This damage to property or furniture will ultimately have a detrimental effect on future rental of the property and is likely to cost the landlord money in the long run.

This particular blog post looks at renting with cats. Cats are one of the most commonly requested pets to be allowed in a rented property, as well as being one that landlords are more likely to agree to.

Is there anything that you can do to boost your chances of having your kitty accepted?

The answer is yes, but you would need to remember that it is still down to the discretion of the landlord so always make sure you check the pet allowances in the tenancy agreement prior to signing that tenancy agreement.

When negotiating with the landlord, the age of the cat can have a big influence; older cats are less likely to cause damage to the property or furniture and are generally toilet trained meaning that there is less chance of any unpleasant stains and marks being left on the lovely beige carpet.

Cats that spend a majority of their time outside can also be more readily agreed to. After all, the more time that is spend outside of the home then less chance there is of anything untoward happening on the inside.

Offering to pay a higher rate of deposit can also be a tempting carrot to dangle in front of your landlord; this can either come in the form of paying upfront, or writing an additional clause into the tenancy agreement to confirm that you will pay for a full, deep clean of the property (such as carpets and pest control treatments) when you are ending your contract. This would prove to the landlord that you are well aware of your tenant responsibilities and be a sign of good will.

Ultimately, if you are looking to have a pet in your rental property then the key is to ensure that the idea of it is really sold to your landlord. This may be easier said than done if they are not a pet lover themselves. But by convincing them that the maintenance of their property is still paramount in your mind you may be more likely to have the nod that you are hoping for!

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