Tenant to pay £1,000 for pet damage

It hardly seems fair but a Nottinghamshire tenant has been ordered to pay just £1,000 after causing £12,000 worth of damage to their rental property.

Despite Martin Starsmore, 28, signing a tenancy agreement with a 'no pets' clause he and his wife moved in a border collie and three cats into the rental property in Newark.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr and Mrs Starsmore refused the letting agent entry to inspect the condition of the rental property during the course of the tenancy.

The prosecution claimed £12,000 of damage was discovered when the property was finally vacated, much of which were caused by dog urine and excrement, both inside and outside the property, as well as damage to UPVC windows and a cooker. 

The ground floor carpets needed to be replaced at a cost of £1,012.

Other building repairs carried out totalled £4,000 according to the agent. 

Mr and Mrs Starsmore's £795 deposit bond ­on the house was not returned. 

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court ordered Mr Starsmore to pay £1,000 in compensation to Richard Watkinson and Partners estate agents to cover the cost of new carpets. 

Read more on the Tenant and his pets in the Newark Advertiser


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