Once the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1, you will no longer be able to refuse pets in your property without good reason, or to discriminate against tenants with children. Pet and child-proofing your property will help ensure your property is safe for these new tenants, as well as better protect it from the potential damage and wear caused by their presence.
Install window restrictors
Window restrictors help reduce the risk of a fall by limiting how far a window can open so should be installed on properties where children will be living. Window blinds must also comply with safety legislation and child-safety standards to prevent the risk of cord strangulation.
Provide secure storage
Ultimately, it’s your tenant’s responsibility to keep potentially harmful items, such as medicines or household cleaning chemicals, out of the reach of curious children or pets. However, removable safety latches or magnetic cabinet locks can help prevent access and will be appreciated by tenants with children who like to explore.
Secure outside spaces
Containing wandering children or pets is vital in outside spaces. Check your garden for anywhere a dog or young child could get out, ensuring that fencing is secure and that garden tools are safely locked away out of reach. A self-locking gate at the front of the property provides extra reassurance to prevent escaping children or dogs from running into the street. You may also want to audit the plants in your garden to check for any that are toxic to children or pets.
Refresh with washable, scrubbable paint
Washable, scrubbable paint will make it easier to clean off dirty handprints or children’s art if they get creative where they shouldn’t and is particularly important in high-traffic areas such as hallways or stairs where paint is likely to get grubby and scuffed. Corner guards and kick guards will also help to reduce damage from dogs that might chew or scratch.
Install more durable flooring
Durability and ease of cleaning are essential considerations for floors too. Whether it’s messy eaters or muddy paws, your flooring is going to take a beating – and potentially a scratching too. Rather than carpet consider a more durable flooring option, such as commercial-grade laminate, that is easily washable, harder to stain or scratch and can be furnished with washable rugs instead.
Think like a pet-owner or parent
Going a step further and considering touches that parents or pet-owners will love could help boost your appeal to pet-owning tenants or family renters if you’ve not targeted them before. Hooks for leads near the door and an outdoor tap for washing mucky paws will be useful for dog owners, while parents with children will appreciate plenty of hall storage for scattered coats and shoes.
Check for ventilation
Pets can increase odours and humidity, and it may be this lingering scent that has put you off letting to tenants with pets previously. Good airflow is already important in your rental property to reduce the risk of damp and mould but will also get rid of smells. Extractor fans also help to leave your property smelling sweet.
Ultimately, you won’t be able to stop damage and under the Renters’ Rights Act you will be able to keep money from the deposit to cover repair costs caused by pets; however, increasing the durability of your property will help minimise the risks.
We Can Help
At Progressive Lets, we are experts in the rental market in the Peterborough area and help landlords find and manage properties within a 50-mile radius. Get in touch to find out more.
