Published 27 August 2025
Should I rent my property to tenants with pets?
There's definitely high demand for rental properties that allow pets, but deciding whether to allow tenants to have their pets in your property can be a big decision. So, let's take a look at the pros and cons...
What are the pros of renting to tenants with pets?
- A wider pool of potential tenants: By allowing pets, you attract can increase the interest on your own property.
- Additional Income: Many landlords are now charing an extra fee for tenants with pets, providing an opportunity to boost your rental income.
- Happier tenants: Studies have shown that having a pet can improve mental health which can lead to more content tenants.
What are the cons of renting to tenants with pets?
- Potential pet related damage: Pets come with a higher likelihood of the floors, furniture and walls being damaged.
- Untrained pets: The pets may not be house trained, which could mean higher cleaning costs at the end of the tenancy.
- Allergy concerns: After pets have been living at the property for some time, it might prove an issue for prospective tenants with allergies.
Becoming a pet-friendly landlord
Choosing to become a pet friendly landlord isn't always simple. It helps to assess each tenant individually to decide if they're responsible pet owners who you'd be comfortable with having in your property.
Here are a couple of scenarios that might happen if you choose to allow pets in your rental property...
Scenario 1
A couple visits your property and mention they have a cat. They assure you the cat is well behaved and has never caused damage in previous rentals. They then provide references from past landlords that confirm the cat is a well behaved one and they were careful in looking after the property.
Scenario 2
A large family come to view your property but don't mention that they have a large dog until after they've expressed interest in renting the property. This doesn't leave you with much time to consider the implications of having a large dog in the property.
This means there's a higher risk of damage to the property and the lack of notice means you now have less time to prepare or make the property pet-proof. This might be a good time to consider declining the application or requesting a large deposit. Taking your time is very important.
Landlord pet policy
Whether you choose to allow pets into your property or not, it's a good idea to have landlord's insurance in place for peace of mind
A typical tenant pet policy should include the following:
- Clearly state whether your tenants can keep pets.
- State whether you allow animals to visit your property.
- Make a list of which animals you are allowing/not allowing into the property.
- Include a procedure for reporting pet-related damage and any additional deposits you require.
- Outline the penalties for breaking the terms of your landlord pet policy.
If you decide to allow pets, consider increasing the deposit a new tenant pays. This is because of the higher risk of damage to your property that you'll need to fix before the next tenant moves in.
Having tenants with pets can be a great way to boost tenant happiness, and while some pets can cause some extra wear and tear to your property, this can be managed with clear policy guidelines and a larger deposit.
