As the number of people moving from owner occupied properties into rental homes increases, so too does the number of people moving their pets along at the same time. Unfortunately, a lot of landlords explicitly forbid pets in their properties because of the damage they can cause, so many tenants don’t bother telling the landlord and simply take their pet with them in the hope the landlord won’t notice.
How can you prevent pet-related damage to your properties?
The only way to protect your properties is to be extra vigilant when inspecting them part way through a tenancy. If you do not allow pets, you will have to be on the lookout for any signs of pets living at the property to be certain your tenant is not hiding a menagerie from view.
The first, and sometimes most obvious, sign of pets in residence is the odour. Cats and dogs often leave pungent smells, from pet urine to eau de smelly dog, so if you catch a whiff of anything suspicious when you walk into the property, it is a good idea to start asking some questions.
Other tell-tale signs to look out for include:
Damaged carpets around doors
Scratch marks on doors and furniture
Pet hair on carpets and soft furnishings—check under cushions and along the perimeter of carpets where hair accumulates and is not picked up by vacuum cleaners
Yellow patches on grass where pets have urinated
If you DO find evidence of pets in situ, you need to address the issue fast as pets can cause a huge amount of damage to furniture and carpets, which often costs hundreds of pounds to put right.
