Many landlords worry about the additional wear and tear that pets can cause and are concerned that the maximum tenancy deposit of five weeks’ rent will be insufficient to cover any damage. Pet damage protection covers pet related damage up to £2,500 in addition to any deposit amount.

Total Landlord’s pet damage protection insurance provides up to £2,500 in pet damage coverage, available to the landlord once the initial standard deposit has been exhausted, offering an additional layer of security for you as a landlord.

Total Landlord’s pet damage protection costs £134.40 per annum including Insurance Premium Tax (this equates to £10 per month excluding Insurance Premium Tax) and covers up to three pets per property. Landlords purchase the policy, guaranteeing them access to the claims process, unlike policies which rely on the tenant taking out the policy. The cost can be passed onto the tenant subject to changes being made in the Tenant Fees Act. However, as insurance costs are tax-deductible against rental income for landlords, the policy is a financially viable solution should the landlord decide to swallow the costs of the policy rather than passing the cost onto the tenant.

Most landlord insurance policies do not cover damage caused by tenants’ pets. Total Landlord offers pet damage protection insurance as an extension to our landlord insurance policies for both new and existing customers.

Unlike most insurance policies, our pet damage protection covers wear and tear caused by pets (so long as it is not due to landlord negligence, poor living conditions or unhygienic living practices), as well as one off events, such as accidental damage or breakage to the fixtures, fittings and contents provided by the landlord during the tenancy.

The pet must  be a domestic or tamed animal owned by the tenant and kept indoors at the  premises. Within this definition Total Landlord’s pet damage protection  policy does not discriminate against pet type. Pet details are only required  at claims stage.

Total Landlord’s pet damage protection does not cover:
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- Any amount in excess of £2,500 in respect of anyone tenant and any one period of insurance

- Damage to landscaped gardens

- Tenant neglect, poor housekeeping, unhygienic living practices and odours from pets

- Damage where the tenant owns more than three pets

- Damage where the tenant is an animal or pet breeder

It is always a good idea to take a deposit so that you have something to fall back on if needed. However, the deposit may not be enough to cover any damage or unpaid rent at the end of the tenancy. Under the Tenant Fee Act, the maximum tenancy deposit that can be taken is five weeks’ rent (tenancies up to £50,000 annual rent).Even if deposit caps are increased in the future, tenants may not be able to afford to increase the amount of deposit paid, particularly in areas of high rents. Pet damage protection tops up the deposit, providing you with an extra safeguard.

It’s  important to be aware of pet friendly policy changes which may increase  tenant demand for pet friendly properties and will make it more difficult for  landlords to reject tenants with pets. The Renters’ Rights Bill proposes that  landlords will need to consider a tenant’s right to request a pet and cannot  unreasonably refuse. This follows changes to the Government’s model tenancy  agreement in 2021 which shifted the default position of landlords towards  granting consent for pets. This phasing out of blanket bans on pet ownership  could limit your ability to reject applications from tenants with pets,  making it crucial to adapt and protect your property effectively. Find out  more about how  the Renters’ Rights Bill affects tenants’ requests for pets.

Pet owners tend to stay longer in their properties and are more likely to feel at home, reducing void periods for landlords. Research commissioned by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home showed that, on average, landlords can expect to gain more financially from renting to tenants with pets than they spend on associated expenses. With our cover, you can make your rental property more welcoming to pet owners, attracting responsible tenants with pets and reducing financial risks, leading to greater peace of mind and happier tenants.

Tenants don’t always request permission to keep a pet, and evidence of pet damage is sometimes only discovered at the end of the tenancy. In addition, the deposit amount taken at the start of the tenancy generally remains unchanged, which could present a challenge if a tenant requests to keep a pet after moving in, particularly if the tenant is not able to increase their deposit. Pet damage protection offers an additional layer of security to landlords in these situations.

If you need to make a claim or a potential claim for pet damage, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible. You can either claim by phone on 0203 907 1780 or claim online by completing the enquiry form on our website.

Claims are  conditional on landlords holding independent inventories and claims having  been identified by formal deposit scheme adjudicators. We will need proof  that the deposit has been used (this can be for any settlement type), before  a claim can be made on the deposit. Our deposit  protection partner mydeposits is  partnered with inventory experts No Letting Go. Find  out more about inventories in this guide  to inventories that combines the expertise of mydeposits and No Letting Go.