Lets with Pets – Pet damage insurance for landlords

Endsleigh’s landlord insurance can cover pet damage if requested. However, it’s unlikely that most landlord insurance policies will cover damage caused by your tenants’ pets.

Our animal-friendly insurance helps you be more inclusive of tenants with pets, whilst widening your market of prospective renters. This can also potentially increase your tenancy lengths and reduce your competition.

If you’re considering renting to tenants with pets, you’ve probably already made their responsibilities clear for covering the cost of pet damage. And you’ll also have their deposit to fall back on should you need it.

However, things don’t always go to plan. In circumstances where the tenant isn’t so forthcoming with resolving their pet’s damage, and maybe the deposit just isn’t enough to cover what needs fixing, what would you do?

This is where your cover comes in – providing you with an extra layer of protection so that repairs don’t come out of your own pocket.

This is a question only you can answer – but it’s worth bearing in mind that the government's model tenancy agreement aims to support people with pets in becoming eligible to rent.

Use of the model tenancy agreement is entirely voluntary - however if you’re not currently allowing lets with pets, it could be a good time to re-think your stance.

Whilst many landlords and pets have tricky relationships, there’s no denying the fact that there are lots of responsible pet owners out there. The tenants with pets market is vast and there are numerous tenants looking for a pet-friendly rental property. Any landlord looking to rent their house quickly could increase their reach dramatically by advertising their properties as pet-friendly.

Equally, the model tenancy agreement already includes rules to protect properties from poorly behaved pets. So you could find that the financial reward of filling properties quickly far outweighs the losses caused by a boisterous pet (which you’d be covered for anyway!).

If you do decide to let to tenants with pets, one of our dedicated landlord insurance options gives you peace of mind that you’re covered against pet damage at no extra charge. Speak to our specialist property team for a quote and let them know you’d like a quote that includes cover for pet damage.

Research from Dogs Trust has shown that one in three pet owners struggle to find a suitable property - leaving a lot of potential tenants looking to find a pet-friendly home.

This may be because landlords fear the damage pets may cause, or simply because they don't want the hassle of writing it into the tenancy agreement. However, you could find that allowing tenants with pets results in longer tenancies and less competition when you do inevitably have to search for new tenants. Having pet damage cover included with your landlord insurance will give you the freedom to accept tenants with pets should you choose to.

Endsleigh is proud to support Dogs Trust’s Lets with Pets scheme. We work with insurers to offer a specialist landlord insurance that includes accidental pet damage cover as standard. This offers landlords peace of mind when renting to tenants with pets.

The cover compliments the work of Dogs Trust’s Lets with Pets scheme, which offers a package of free tools and resources for landlords. The Lets with Pets scheme was set up in 2009 with the aim of making privately renting with pets easier for pet owners, landlords and letting agencies.

If you need to make a claim under your landlord insurance policy - including claims for pet damage - please visit our claim centre. There you’ll be able to select the correct contact information for your specific insurance policy.

If you’re looking for insurance but aren’t sure where to begin, why not check out our handy guide for lots of information and top tips?

What types of landlord insurance are there?

What is rent guarantee insurance?

Can I insure multiple properties on one policy?

What is landlord legal cover?

A building valuation will provide an accurate reinstatement cost for your property giving you the information you need to request the right amount of cover from your broker.

BCH is a RICS-regulated company that provides building insurance rebuilding cost valuations via desk-based e-valuations or site-based reinstatement cost assessments (RCA).

Find out more about building insurance valuation services today.