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With my 16 year old having finished his GCSE’s what better way to celebrate than take him away with our beagle/ basset, Biscuit & Co Founder of Pets Lets, as well as a friend of my sons to experience a dog friendly holiday on the Isle of Wight.
Simple to get to from London and the ferry to Fishbourne from Portsmouth (insert Whitley ferries link) was easy. We even arrived early and drove straight on to a ferry. Before 8.30am we were on the Isle of Wight with all three asleep in the back of the car.
Holidaying with a dog can be more complicated when looking for place to stay. On Pets Lets we list pet friendly rentals from long & short lets to holiday lets and now dog friendly pub rooms. We work a lot with Michael Paul Holidays, who are so helpful and recommend and decided to use one of their resorts that we list on the Pets Lets portal. Biscuit needed to ‘sniff’ the place out.
When going on holiday with a dog or more than one dog, there are other things to consider. At your dog friendly place to stay, having that safe and secure bit of outside space makes such a difference in the morning and at night. Far more relaxing and stressful. Save the harness and leads for the main walks during the day.
At Pets Lets, we work with clients from all over the world looking to relocate with their pets. They are astounded by how difficult it is here in the UK to find pet friendly rentals.
In other counties if you want to rent with your dog, it is a simple process. Yet here in the UK, it is a ‘hotly debated topic’.
Landlords are keen to protect their investments and are concerned at the potential damage can do to their properties. It takes one irresponsible pet owner to have a knock-on effect with landlords and estate agents. Talking to property professionals, you hear about cats scratching carpets and dogs chewing furniture.
Yet 9 times out of 10, pet owners are far more responsible than tenants without pets, and you can argue that dogs and cats damage properties less than children. On the other hand, pet owners are equally as vocal about landlords and agents not listening to them and ‘flatly’ saying no to pets.
Pets are part of the family. You would not leave them behind. Whether you are moving within or to the UK with your dog or cat from abroad, they come with you. Pet relocation is a complicated process anyway without changing rules and regulations plus throw in covid flight restrictions and Brexit.
Naturally after 1 January 2021 with Brexit, everything has changed and there has been a lot of uncertainty. To be safe it is always good to start off by following official UK Government pet relocation guidelines.Also have a look at the UK Government Website for official advice which outlines assistance and guide dogs are an exception.
When I was a search agent in London for over 20 years, it was all about location, location, location. Even when looking at new build flats, will the unit have a decent view. Location within a building was just as important. Make sure your buy to let stands out from the rest. River views or a unit that not face directly on to another building.
Buying a buy to let is a big investment and for many landlords it is their pension. Important to get it right. Therefore, there is a reluctance by landlords to allow any tenants that might damage the property. Students, tenants with pets fall into those categories of high risk.
The important point is how do you get over that mindset about pets and damage. At Pets Lets, we set up a Pets & Property Tips Facebook Group to help tenants with pets and advise landlords on the merits of allowing cats and dogs. Landlords and pet owners have more in common than they think.
The Irresponsible Minority of Pet owners & Landlords, tarnish their reputations.
At Pets Lets, we look at it from pets & mortar basis. Finding a home for all the family.
Some landlords have had some poor experiences with pet owners. Other see owners not picking up after their dogs. All of this gives a bad impression and you can understand their concerns. On the other hand, Landlords tend to agree that pet owners are mainly responsible, and it is only the few that let pet owners down. Taking on a tenant is a ‘lottery’. Reference checks will not tell you about people’s behavioural patterns. In fact, you will know more about the behavioural patterns of a dog. Older dogs will sleep most of the day. Puppies need some exercise and proper training.
My advice to landlords is take it on a case by case basis. Pet owners, take you dog on a viewing, especially if the landlord will be present. Show them the reality that your dog is well behaved.
Like all things it does take time. However, the ‘poodemic’ with irresponsible pet owners is really affecting those who care and just want a home that will allow their pets. If you see someone ignoring their dog doing its business and they walk on, for the sake of other pet owners, hand them a poo bag and ask them to clean it up.