Renters’ Rights Act: How to navigate new pet-friendly rules in the UK
From May 1, the dynamic of Yorkshire’s rental market is shifting. Under the new Renters’ Rights Act, the “no pets” barrier is finally falling for the region’s renters. But while the law now recognises pets as family, landlords still view them through the lens of liability.
Data from Novuna Personal Finance found that 75 per cent of owners have faced pet-related home repairs - contributing to a staggering £627m national bill - the freedom to house a four-legged friend comes with a significant financial caveat.
Crucially, while earlier drafts of the legislation suggested landlords could mandate that tenants take out specific pet insurance, the final Act removed this provision. This means the legal and financial responsibility for any damage falls squarely on the standard deposit.
Novuna’s study found that soiled carpets and flooring damage are the leading causes of destruction (50 per cent), followed by chewed furniture (32 per cent) and ripped upholstery (23 per cent).
To help protect your deposit, Yorkshire vet and founder of VetMedi.co.uk, Dr Charlotte Inness, shares her essential guide to “pet-proofing” your property:
Protect soft furnishings with blankets. Cosy blankets and throws are a household staple for both comfort and design, but they are also an effective way to protect furniture from excess fur settling into the fibres.
“Covering your sofas, bedding and chairs with a washable throw is a great way to keep fur levels under control,” Dr. Inness says. “If your pet has a favourite spot on the furniture, placing a dedicated blanket there helps to contain the fur to one area, acting as a protective layer for the upholstery. Once it’s gathered too much fur, simply pop it in the wash for a fresh, reusable cover.”
Use pet-safe anti-chew sprays. For dogs that chew skirting boards or chair legs - or cats that gnaw on fabrics - use a pet-safe bitter apple or cherry spray. These non-toxic deterrents make surfaces taste unpleasant without harming the animal.
“It’s a highly effective way to make furniture legs or 'chew-zones' taste unpleasant and discourage the habit,” says Dr. Inness. “However, an alternative to sprays is a vet-approved diffuser that plugs into an electrical socket. These spread a calming pheromone scent around the home to tackle the reason for the chewing anxiety - rather than just the symptom.”
It’s advisable to test a spray on an inconspicuous area first. Some deterrents can damage the finish on polished or antique wood, potentially leading to the very damage charges you're trying to avoid.
Create designated pet areas. Similar to covering a favourite furniture spot, setting up designated areas for your pets can prove effective in maintaining fur levels throughout the rest of the home. It can also provide much needed relief for anxious pets, mitigating any stress-related chewing and scratching.
“Cosy pet bedding not only provides comfort, but is a handy way of keeping excess fur in one place,” advises Dr. Innes. “When your pet is away from the bed, you can pop it in the wash for a refresh if machine-washable, or give it a quick vacuum if it’s too large for the machine.”
Calm the mind, save the carpet. For many pets, destructive behaviour is a cry for help. For mild to moderate stress, there are a wide range of over-the-counter (OTC) products that can help settle a pet into a new rental or keep them calm when at home.
Supplements can provide nutritional support for anxious pets, while plug-in diffusers like Adaptil (dogs) or Feliway (cats) reduce stress, anxiety, and behavioural issues in pets and can be placed around the home.
You can also use targeted calming sprays containing pheromones for short-term periods to make pets feel safe, reducing the need for territorial marking.
“I always advise trialling these products on a quiet day first,” says Dr. Inness. “You need to know how your dog or cat responds and ensure the dosage is correct before the 'stress event' actually happens. Never try a new calming product for the first time during your moving day.”
Vetmedi.co.uk, set up by Dr Innes at her kitchen table during the pandemic, aims to makes medicines much more affordable for animal owners by cutting out the mark-up added by vets practices. Today, it operates a nationwide digital platform delivering prescription veterinary medicines, nutrition and supplements and health supplies directly to doorsteps across the UK. This is complemented by a local dispensary.
The business recently moved to larger premises with a n office and warehouse space a t York North B usiness Park, Sutton-on-the-Forest.