During the hustle and bustle of a move it’s important to consider your pets. Packing with your four-legged family member can be a stressful task, but it doesn’t have it to be if you are prepared. Scroll to know more about the current UK guidelines for tenants with pets, tips for moving with pets and more.
On 28 January 2021, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced new guidelines around common household pets, bringing the UK one step closer to banning landlords from refusing tenants with animals.
Under the new Model Tenancy Agreement, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets. Instead, consent for pets will be the default position and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.
Preparations for moving with Pets:
Take your pet to your new neighborhood for walks before you move in. Walk by your new house and let your pet familiarize him/her with the scents of the neighborhood. Go inside the new house if possible or try to bring something from the new house to your pet so he/she can familiarize with its unique smell.
Transport pets in a vehicle they already know. They should travel in a carrier that can be secured with a seatbelt. Bigger dogs can be placed in a kennel in the back of the car. Put a blanket of small animals in cages, so stay calm, and they don’t notice the changing environment outside.
Use a pheromone diffuser in your pet’s room. Pheromones are natural scents that are undetectable to humans, but can help keep your pet calm.
Notify your pet insurance company of your change of address.
When packing luggage for the trip, make sure the kennel for your dog is suitably ventilated. A closed suitcase may give a feeling of suffocation, but your pet needs normal breathing. In case you are in favour of taking a carrier bag, make sure it is well labeled with the mention of your dog’s name and ID. Get high-tech microchip registration for your pet. It is a pet recovery database that brings lost pets home.
Try to arrange for a friend or relative to look after your pet on moving day or get them booked into a trusted kennel or cattery. So, you can have the space and time you need to pack and move without having to worry about your pet.
Research a new veterinary practice in the area you are moving to and register your pet with them in advance.
Pets can get car sick and anxious on a journey, so administer anti-nausea medication in advance or speak to your vet about using anti-anxiety medication for nervous pets.
What about guide dog?
The law regarding guide dogs is different. If a landlord fails to provide a strong reason for refusing to allow a blind tenant a guide dog, then the tenant could bring a claim against the landlord under the Equality Act 2010 for failing to make reasonable adjustments for their tenant.
Use terminology such as ‘will consider pets’ instead of the blanket ‘pets accepted’ when dealing with letting agents or placing ads.
Do a Property Inventory so there’s no confusion about what kind of state the property is in before the tenant/pet moved in.
Regular landlord building and content insurance policies don’t usually cover potential pet damage, so you may want to get additional insurance.
If you have a leasehold property, check the T&C’s of the lease, because some state that animals are prohibited from residing in the property.
Keep these helpful tips in mind when planning your move; your furry friends will thank you!
