Is it time to reference your tenants pets as well?

In the past we have asked the question is it worth considering letting to tenants with pets?

We have suggested that landords have a heart when it comes to letting our furry friends occupy our precious real estate.

Landlords that are still unsure about letting to tenants with pets may want to consider getting their tenants to take out insurance.

Pet reference

Landlords know that we always advise them to thoroughly reference their tenants .

However, referencing your tenants pets is a new one on us. Apparently when considering letting to a tenant with a pet it's also possible to get a reference on the tenants pet.

The website Letswithpets advises landlords that:

It's a good idea to ask prospective tenants to provide you with a reference for their pet from a previous landlord. If they have not rented with their pets before, you could ask for a reference from their veterinary surgeon but please bear in mind that there may be some circumstances in which tenants cannot provide a reference.

The keys points that you should ask to be covered in a pet reference from a previous landlord are:

How long did the tenant live in the previous property with their pets?

Which pets did they own at that time?

Does the referee consider the tenant to be a responsible pet owner?

Were the tenant's pets well behaved?

Did their pets cause any damage to the property?

Did their pets cause a nuisance to neighbours or visitors?

If the reference is to be provided by a veterinary surgeon, it should cover the following points:

Are the tenant's pets generally well behaved?

Does the veterinary surgeon consider the tenant to be a responsible pet owner?

Does the tenant provide routine preventive health care, such as vaccinations and flea treatments, for their pets (when appropriate)?

It is possible to download a sample pet reference from their website.

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