Disadvantages of allowing pets
The risks and challenges of allowing pets in rentals
While pet-friendly policies can attract more applicants and encourage longer tenancies, they also come with genuine risks that landlords need to consider carefully. From property damage to potential disputes, here are some of the key challenges.
Property damage: One of the most common concerns is damage caused by pets. Dogs and cats, in particular, can cause wear and tear beyond what’s considered normal. Scratches on floors, doors, or walls are fairly common, especially with hardwood or laminate flooring. In furnished properties, there’s a risk of pets chewing or damaging furniture and fittings. Accidents inside the home, such as urine stains or lingering odours can require deep cleaning or even replacement of carpets and soft furnishings. There’s also the added risk of fleas or other pests, which can lead to costly pest control treatments. Over time, these extra repairs and maintenance costs can eat into the landlord’s return on investment
Landlord insurance: Many standard landlord insurance policies exclude damage caused by pets, and without appropriate coverage, landlords risk bearing the full cost of any repairs or claims themselves. Luckily, our partner brand Total Landlord offers pet damage protection as an extension to our policy, having this coverage allows landlords to welcome pets without the worry of uncovered damage costs
Disputes over deposits: Pets can complicate the end-of-tenancy process, particularly when it comes to deposit deductions. Differentiating between normal wear and tear and pet-related damage can be subjective and lead to disputes between landlords and tenants. This can result in lengthy disagreements, delayed deposit returns, and, in some cases, formal disputes through tenancy deposit schemes or courts
At mydeposits, we offer secure deposit protection and provide a structured dispute resolution process, so both parties are treated fairly, and deposits are handled transparently
Property damage
Cost of repairs not being covered by insurance
Disputes over deposits
Pest issues
