Finding homes for humans and their hounds

We are thrilled to be teaming up with one of Bristol’s top Letting Agents to try and make renting easier for the city’s pet owning population. This scheme is the first of its kind in the city, and has been established as a result of the struggles that pet-owning renters face, when trying to find a home.

Ben Giles, Associate Director at The Letting Game said: “We’re incredibly excited about our new partnership with Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. For years we’ve seen landlords turn away very strong potential tenants on the basis that they have pets and we believe through this union, we will not only be able to support the city’s oldest animal charity, but will also be able to support pet owners and tap in to potentially hundreds of very strong tenants who are usually turned away without being given a chance. I’m confident that our partnership will be a huge success.”

Both the charity and letting service saw a need to help ease this predicament in the city, with so many renters desperate to find a home happy to accommodate their pet:

“We hear regularly from members of the public who are desperate to find somewhere to live with their pet, but are struggling. They come to us for advice on where to turn next. We hope that by collaborating with The Letting Game, and launching The Petting Game, many more landlords will come around to the idea of accepting pets in their properties,” said Bev Mackenzie, Fundraising and Communications Manager, Bristol A.R.C.

The Petting Game, will be of both benefit to tenant and landlord. Advantages to the landlord include increasing the pool of tenants to the property, and encouraging long term lets, while for the tenant they will be able to find a property where their whole family is welcome and an abundance of homes to choose from in the city.

Bristol A.R.C. will be on hand with a guide for managing potential problem behaviours should they occur, including advice on toileting indoors and barking. All landlords and tenants who sign up to the scheme will be offered this handy and easy to digest guide.

“We are very proud to have setup this first scheme of its kind in Bristol. Owning a pet does not make you an unattractive tenant, and we hope that this is something we will be able to prove through The Petting Game. We are really proud to be working with The Letting Game and we truly hope that we will be able to find many more homes for wonderful tenants and their fabulous pets in our city."