Renters Reform Invoice: Pet homeowners six instances much less prone to discover a rental property than people who smoke

56% of rental properties didn’t enable people who smoke, whereas 93% would flip away potential tenants with pets.

Pet homeowners discover it tougher to safe a rental property compared to people who smoke. UK rental market analysis discovered that a median of simply 7% of accessible rental properties are listed as ‘pets thought-about’. Compared, 44% of landlords are keen to welcome an lively smoker.

Regardless of landlords not welcoming pets into their properties, the Renters’ Reform Invoice was launched to parliament on Could 17 2023 which plans to provide non-public tenants the ‘authorized proper’ to personal a pet. Nonetheless, it’s predicted that the laws received’t come into impact till October 2024 and animal lovers should cope with restricted rental choices.

Smoking cessation specialists at Vape Membership sought to find how many individuals have been limiting their rental market selections by selecting to smoke, and the way this in comparison with the well-covered rental challenges pet homeowners face, by gathering and analysing knowledge from SpareRoom.co.uk.

The info revealed that, on common, landlords would reasonably have an lively smoker of their rental property than pets. On common, quitting smoking may greater than double your probabilities of renting. While not proudly owning a pet may open tenants as much as round fourteen instances extra properties — however solely one in all these adjustments has the additional advantage of bettering your well being.

The borough of Havering in London is the least welcoming to pet homeowners looking for a rental house, with zero pet-friendly properties.

Comparatively, 44% of landlords in Havering have been nonetheless keen to permit people who smoke to lease their properties. It’s clear that pet homeowners are being excluded from an enormous variety of rental properties.

Even essentially the most pet-friendly areas are hesitant to permit pets. Dundee at present has the best share of pet-friendly listings within the UK. Nonetheless, regardless of being essentially the most pet-friendly location for renters, it stays low at 14% of the accessible listings — a bit of below one in seven properties.

The avoidance of tenants with pets is probably going resulting from fears of injury to the property. A current survey revealed that 85% of landlords have incurred injury to their property by pets. 

Smoking cessation knowledgeable Dan Marchant, Director at E-Liquid retailer Vape Membership, stated, “It’s clear to see that proudly owning pets severely limits your choices when looking for a rental property.

“Nonetheless, it’s shocking to see that this sentiment isn’t the identical for people who smoke and virtually half (44%) of landlords are keen to just accept an lively smoker. Smoking may cause injury to rental properties with cigarette smoke staining partitions, leaving an odour that’s laborious to take away and doubtlessly leaving burns on surfaces. 

“We additionally know that smoking can considerably injury private well being. While I’m stunned that so many landlords settle for lively people who smoke however not pets, it’s clear that quitting smoking will nonetheless open up over half of the rental property market.

“So, quitting smoking won’t solely enhance your well being but additionally improve entry to the rental market which is at present vastly aggressive. It’s vital to do all you possibly can to spice up your probabilities of getting the rental property you need, which is why quitting smoking can virtually double your choices.”

Jonathan Rolande, founding father of HouseBuyFast, added, “The principle purpose landlords favor to not lease to pet homeowners is as a result of injury may be a difficulty, pets can claw at carpet and scratch laborious flooring. There will also be points with fleas lengthy after the tenant has left. Some renters refuse properties which have just lately housed a pet. 

“Insurance coverage is a wonderful technique to defend properties from pet injury. I like to recommend ensuring tenants are accountable homeowners and that the pet is appropriate for the area, for instance not having a big canine in a studio flat. My recommendation for tenants is don’t be afraid to easily ask your landlord.

“Usually a dialog at an early stage between landlord and tenant can assist clear up any points and ensure each events are clear on the place they stand.”