Government rejects calls for changes to Tenant Fees Act on pet deposits
But Propertymark has warned ministers that the legislation needs revisiting because it makes renting to tenants with pets more difficult.
Industry trade body Propertymark says estate agents will continue to press the government to make it easier for properties to be rented to tenants with pets despite the government rejecting calls to reform the Tenant Fees Act.
Mark Hayward, Chief Policy Advisor at Propertymark, says: “The limitations that the Tenant Fees Act is imposing on the private rented sector is causing a reduced appetite for many who wish to rent out their property.
The legislation, which became law in 2019, has had the unintended effect of making it much harder for landlords and agents to accept tenants with pets.
This is because it outlaws tenants being charged an additional deposit for pets, and prevents them being required to take out pet insurance.
Hughes told fellow Conservative MP and pets campaigner Andrew Rosindell in a written parliamentary reply that “the five-week cap should be considered the maximum, rather than the default amount charged.
“This approach should therefore accommodate private renters who wish to keep pets, without the need for a separate pet deposit.
“The Government has no plans at this time to amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019.”
But Hayward (pictured) warns: “The Act does not provide enough protection for landlords to warrant the greater risk of damage that comes with renting to tenants with pets.
“Politicians, charities and sector organisations, including Propertymark, continue to rally [support] in order to press the UK Government to revisit the rules and explore options to remove barriers that shouldn’t have been there in the first place in order to support more people to rent with pets.”
