2nd March 2021
New government pet plans not all bad for landlords
The government’s model tenancy agreement has been updated to encourage the consideration of tenants with pets - and it needn’t be the challenge that landlords first anticipated. The changes have the primary aim of supporting people with pets in being able to rent.
According to Endsleigh Insurance, these changes to the model tenancy agreement could see landlords across the UK attracting a wider number of tenants than they previously did. And because of this, Endsleigh are encouraging all landlords to re-think their stance, especially if they’re finding it difficult to on-board responsible renters in the current climate.
Endsleigh’s Broker Operations Leader, Shannon Collins, has commented
“The government’s new plans are a huge step in the right direction to support tenants looking for rental properties that accept pets. But we believe there is more to be done. The use of the contract template is currently voluntary and not legally binding. Actually enforcing the consideration of well-behaved pets by law would be the next step in the right direction.”
From a landlord’s perspective, the tenants with pets market is vast. Any landlord looking to rent their house quickly can now increase their reach by using and supporting the government’s model tenancy agreement.
Whilst many landlords across the UK were quick to comment on the downsides of the government’s announcement, the tenancy model agreement does include rules to make sure properties are protected from poorly-behaved pets.
In addition, there are already measures in place to protect landlords and their properties from pet damage. Endsleigh have been running their Pet Damage cover in line with their Landlord Insurance for a few years – and at no extra cost to landlords.
Shannon went on to say,
“Being passionate about this particular topic (and given the amount of people becoming pet owners during lockdown), one of the things we’re most proud of is that we don’t charge landlords extra for this cover.
It allows landlords to be as inclusive as possible, whilst also giving peace of mind that we’ve got them covered – and at no extra cost to their standard landlord property insurance. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Endsleigh has noticed a significant uplift in Pet Damage client queries and quotations recently. It appears as though more property owners are considering furry tenants than ever before. And there’s never been a better time than during the current climate, where so many of us have relied heavily on our pets for our mental wellbeing.
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About Endsleigh Insurance Services
A leading insurance broker for the education sector, Endsleigh Insurance Services is dedicated to providing market-leading insurance solutions for students, teachers, alumni and education establishments that’ll make sure they’re protected at every step.
Established in 1965 to champion affordable insurance for students, when others wouldn’t. They use their expertise and dedication to provide value for money for their customers, and have extended their products and services to professionals as well as commercial and business customers, aligning their solutions to core markets of education, property, travel and not-for-profit. Find out more at www.endsleigh.co.uk/about-us/
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