To ask why unfurnished rental properties still don't allow pets?

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My sister is having terrible trouble trying to find a place to rent with her two cats. I can understand furnished properties due to scratching sofa etc., but why do so many unfurnished places not allow pets? The one she was viewing didn't even have carpet, just laminate flooring!

It will also be supply and demand (where the long lease does not prohibit pets) - if there were no tenants landlords might risk it with a tenant with a dog. If there are lots of tenants wanting to rent then you are bound to pick the one least likely to do damage (and of course being able to pay the rent too, passing the credit checks etc). Letting to a couple who are young professionals without children is pretty common in London actually particularly as we have such a constant ebb and flow of people coming just for a year, moving countries or moving jobs or towns so you don't really need to let to families with children most of the time.

I rented out properties unfurnished because I learned my lesson, the tennant always says oh but my pets are so good, they don’t scratch the doors or floors etc, then when they do they say oh it’s so unlike them, and the deposit doesn’t cover the damage.

I’ve had a carpet scratched through by a cat, floors and door frames scratched terribly, some don’t clean properly and walls and floors/carpets minging.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always had pets and love them, but some people really will not clean properly and their pets will cause damage.

Sorry that should read I’ve rented out unfurnished and disallowed pets.

I think it's the case of if you can get a tenant without pets, why get one with? There's no benefit or incentive to the LL, only risk that it will cause damage particularly to flooring.

I've rented pet friendly places but they've been more expensive then the same flat without pets, and required an extra deposit.

Sadly pets are becoming a luxury

Honestly?

1. The smell.
2. The potential for damage- from urine, from scratching, from chewing.
3. Potential noise nuisance to neighbours (dogs rather than cats).

I recently moved to the west country and had to rent for 6 months while I bought a house.
Not one single place would accept my ancient 19 year old cat. All she does is sleep.
There was no way I was leaving her behind, we are a team. In the end I had to rent a caravan on a holiday park in a pretty rough area at an extortionate surcharge.
It was a relief to move into our new home.

Also when they checked the place after we left probably in the hopes of keeping my deposit they said they had never seen one of their caravans left so pristine and there was no cat damage anywhere.

You can try contacting the LL directly and offering an additional deposit and/or more per month.

There is a chance that with covid job losses there may be more rentals on the market then tenants, and a LL will take you with pets if you can prove stable income, savings etc. out of all those interested. Particularly if you want long term and are willing to agree to a longer lease

When I rented out in the past I didn't allow pets, the next door had two dogs and when they were at work they scratched and scratched at the doors and windows so that put me off. Also now I'm renting to someone I know and I said Ok, and the two cats are definitely peeing somewhere (carpet) but even with laminate flooring you're not safe for it as you'd have a hell of a job getting rid of it if it went between the joins or soaked into the wood. I guess LLs could ask for a higher deposit in the case of pets, but it's usually high enough, would people really pay that?

We rent out property where I work. We allowed pets with a double deposit but we are no longer able to take the extra deposit. No more pets now except for the ones we already agreed to 😥

Not allowed to ask for a higher deposit to cover pets these days Timewasting. The only way to do it would be to put the total rent up.

Deep cleaning carrots
Hahaha!
🥕

I didn't know that, Porcupine. It's actually my brother living there (mates rates) so he'll be there long term and I know he would fix any damage so I'm not too worried. I guess if you can't cover the cost of damage that way you can see why LLs are worried about it, especially if you had a fast turnaround of tenants. But it's a shame for the owners of pets who don't make a mess.

My first student place had a flea infestation from the people who had been there before us. It was horrific! The landlady was lovely but it was tough to sort out and I bet it was more than she bargained for when she had allowed the previous tenant to have a cat.

Not all pets and pet owners are bad news. When I rented with a cat I got my full deposit back, the flat was in better shape than when I moved in. No chance of fleas there, my cat was treated occasionally but unlikely to have them as she was an indoor cat with no access to other cats.

It’s not the animals but the people , not repairing damage or bothering to clear up animal waste and promising a dog doesn’t bark when that is all it does all day ! Then other tenants complain landlords can’t insist people get rid of pets .

When I rented out my flat years ago, I had a no pets clause but the tenants decided to ignore it. The paintwork and walls were scratched and the cats probably peed inside as it stank, all in a very short period. Along with the damage the tenants themselves had done, the deposit didn't cover the costs.

I can understand why landlords don't want to risk it.

I think it's worth asking even if the landlord says no pets in the advert. I am a landlord and say no pets but what I really mean is no dogs as I am terrified of them and would never be able to inspect the house if the tenant had one. So I have been asked about cats gerbils etc and fine with those. Just no dogs - not even nice ones.

I hate landlords as they're leaches on society

I was a landlord for a few years, when I left my job and home to move in with my parents so I forms care for my mother, who had degenerative and terminal illness.

I made no profit over the few years (excess money went into improving the property). The one repair that needed doing was done the same day the tenants told us about it.

I knew I was lucky to own a home and hoped that by keeping the rent low I was helping others. But principally I was making a huge sacrifice to care for a loved one.

If you think that makes me a leech on society, you presumably have the standards of Mother Theresa.

Hair , smells , pee, scratching. LL cannot take double deposits anymore. 5 weeks maximum.

Myself and DH rent some properties out. Built up a small portfolio over years. Even unfurnished properties you find that animals messing in the house plus their flees etc mean that the house takes on a "animal" smell that is impossible to get rid of without complete redecorating and either changing carpets or deep cleaning floors. Add to that particularly cats scratching door frames. The other aspect is that when the garden has been used by the dog in particular instead of being walked, then really there should be several months before a child be allowed to play in it due to possible infections from the dog poo which then limits re-letting.

We have always had the no pets rule but bought one house off a friend who had let it out and didn't have that rule. Frankly it stank and when they left, we refurbed the whole thing even though the paint and carpets were fairly new and wouldn't have been changed in the normal scheme of updating.

There is huge demand from pet owners to rent properties and huge resistance from landlords to renting to them so they don't have their property ruined. For all animal lovers it is simply not viable to rent to you and maintain the property to a high standard which we do. I can't see many animal owners being happy to pay for an end of tenancy refurb at several thousand pounds

The house opposite me was renting out. Lovely family and we got on really well with them. They had a dog and he was fab.

However, they moved out just before lockdown and I got chatting to their landlord, who has been getting the house ready to rent out again. He has now said ‘no pets. He has had to replace half the internal doors due to scratches. All the carpets have had to be deep cleaned as they stunk of ‘dog’ and the laminate flooring has had to be replaced due to the scratches. It’s cost him more to paint, due to the marks on the walls and he has had to use 3 coats in the downstairs rooms.

The back fence panels have had to be replaced and he has re-turfed the back garden.

It’s just too much hassle.

I rent out an unfurnished house. No uncaged pets allowed. So Guinea pigs, hamsters and fish ok, but no dogs or cats.
They make a house smell, no matter what dog and cat owners say (we have a cat), and the general wear and tear is greater - they scratch, wee, poo, vomit, whatever, and we were once left with fleas after one tenant.
So, no matter how many times you tell me you're pet doesn't do that, the answer is no.

Pets meaning any animal more than a domestic cat
damage to carpets,
Urine and stains, damage to lawns, holes
Damaged walls and fences.
Dogs barking or causing aggressive behaviour around the property causing upset.
Sometimes explaining your animal is well behaved or trained can change the LL mind.
We can see the former tenants rabbit cage stain on the floor in the kitchen- unusual pet owner ideas and habits not fit for the house or healthy.
Cat ladies!

Someone said earlier in the thread that pet damage never seems to be an issue with private sales but it can be. In one house I bought the previous owner had two dogs. The garden was tiny, just a small patch if neat lawn with a flower bed to the side of the path. On moving in the flower bed I realised had been used as a dog toilet & just left , no effort to clean it up, there was also dog shit all over the grass. We had 2 small DC and I couldn't let them out there. We had to pave over the "dog toilet" and returf the grass. So yes, irresponsible pet owners everywhere, no just rented accommodation.

And I forgot to mention holiday lets. There's no way I will stay in a holiday property that allows pets. I rented a caravan one time where someone had sneaked in a cat, the smell was overwhelming as soon as I opened the door despite having been cleaned that day. Fortunately it was swapped without fuss. I feel the same about smokers, though it's less if an issue these days due to legislation. Any smokers who think they, or their house, doesn't smell is mistaken. Non smokers can smell it instantly, even on kids reading books that they take to school.