Pet deposits only option following UK Government U-turn on Renters’ Rights Bill
Ahead of Report Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Lords which kicks off later today, Tuesday 1 July 2025, Propertymark is urging Peers to support an amendment that would allow for an additional pet deposit now that the UK Government has tabled amendments to remove pet insurance requirements.
Since the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act, Propertymark has long campaigned for pet deposits because the legislation does not allow deposits to be set at a more flexible level to reflect the greater risk of renting to tenants with pets.
Since 1 June 2019, deposits on new tenancies are capped at an equivalent five weeks’ rent, where the total annual rent is less than £50,000, or six-weeks’ rent, where the total annual rent is £50,000 or more. Before the Tenant Fees Act, landlords often asked for pet deposits of around two weeks’ rent, but pet rents now mean tenants are often paying more each month. Landlords face real and substantial costs arising from tenants keeping pets- for example, it can cost a landlord £305 for a three-stage flea treatment which will reflect the lifecycle of a flea with one District Council in Essex charging landlords £276.00 for one visit.
Under the Renters’ Rights Bill published on 11 September 2024, the UK Government aim is to give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. To support this, the Bill initially set out that landlords could require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property. However, UK Government amendments removing pet insurance requirements have been tabled before Report Stage.
Propertymark met The Earl of Kinnoull, convenor of the Crossbench group of Peers in January to discuss a proposal to introduce an additional pet deposit, so it is positive that Lord Kinnoull’s amendment has been tabled again at Report Stage. The amendment would mean that the tenant makes an additional pet damage deposit which must be of equivalent value to three weeks rent.
Commenting, Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said:
“Without allowing pet deposits, the UK Government risk further undermining their efforts to support tenants to rent with pets. We know that the Tenant Fees Act 2019 is a barrier to renting with pets with one in five landlords who previously allowed pets no longer doing since the passing of the Act. Furthermore, 57% of landlords and agents said they were unable to recoup the cost of damage caused by pets. Lord Kinnoull’s amendment for an additional pet damage deposit offers a better opportunity to support renters and protect landlords.”
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