56% of rental properties didn’t permit people who smoke, whereas 93% would flip away potential tenants with pets.
Pet homeowners discover it harder to safe a rental property compared to people who smoke. UK rental market analysis discovered that a median of simply 7% of accessible rental properties are listed as ‘pets thought-about’. Compared, 44% of landlords are keen to welcome an lively smoker.
Regardless of landlords not welcoming pets into their properties, the Renters’ Reform Invoice was launched to parliament on Could 17 2023 which plans to provide personal tenants the ‘authorized proper’ to personal a pet. Nonetheless, it’s predicted that the laws received’t come into impact till October 2024 and animal lovers must cope with restricted rental choices.
Smoking cessation specialists at Vape Membership sought to find how many individuals have been limiting their rental market selections by selecting to smoke, and the way this in comparison with the well-covered rental challenges pet homeowners face, by gathering and analysing knowledge from SpareRoom.co.uk.
The info revealed that, on common, landlords would quite have an lively smoker of their rental property than pets. On common, quitting smoking may greater than double your probabilities of renting. While not proudly owning a pet may open tenants as much as round fourteen occasions extra properties — however solely certainly one of these modifications has the additional advantage of bettering your well being.
The borough of Havering in London is the least welcoming to pet homeowners trying to find a rental dwelling, with zero pet-friendly properties.
Comparatively, 44% of landlords in Havering have been nonetheless keen to permit people who smoke to hire their properties. It’s clear that pet homeowners are being excluded from an enormous variety of rental properties.
Even probably the most pet-friendly areas are hesitant to permit pets. Dundee at the moment has the best proportion of pet-friendly listings within the UK. Nonetheless, regardless of being probably the most pet-friendly location for renters, it stays low at 14% of the obtainable listings — a bit below one in seven properties.
The avoidance of tenants with pets is probably going attributable to fears of harm to the property. A current survey revealed that 85% of landlords have incurred harm to their property by pets.
Smoking cessation knowledgeable Dan Marchant, Director at E-Liquid retailer Vape Membership, stated, “It’s clear to see that proudly owning pets severely limits your choices when trying to find a rental property.
“Nonetheless, it’s shocking to see that this sentiment isn’t the identical for people who smoke and nearly half (44%) of landlords are keen to just accept an lively smoker. Smoking could cause harm to rental properties with cigarette smoke staining partitions, leaving an odour that’s onerous to take away and probably leaving burns on surfaces.
“We additionally know that smoking can considerably harm private well being. While I’m shocked that so many landlords settle for lively people who smoke however not pets, it’s clear that quitting smoking will nonetheless open up over half of the rental property market.
“So, quitting smoking won’t solely enhance your well being but additionally improve entry to the rental market which is at the moment massively aggressive. It’s essential to do all you’ll be able to to spice up your probabilities of getting the rental property you need, which is why quitting smoking can nearly double your choices.”
Jonathan Rolande, founding father of HouseBuyFast, added, “The primary cause landlords want to not hire to pet homeowners is as a result of harm might be a difficulty, pets can claw at carpet and scratch onerous flooring. There may also be points with fleas lengthy after the tenant has left. Some renters refuse houses which have lately housed a pet.
“Insurance coverage is a superb technique to shield houses from pet harm. I like to recommend ensuring tenants are accountable homeowners and that the pet is appropriate for the area, for instance not having a big canine in a studio flat. My recommendation for tenants is don’t be afraid to easily ask your landlord.
“Usually a dialog at an early stage between landlord and tenant can assist clear up any points and ensure each events are clear on the place they stand.”