Should pet bans be banned?

[LPC]

Well, we actually had a little experience of this, in the past! We used to let out our smaller house in Normandy to holidaymakers (one, two, three weeks at a time). Many people do holiday lets (called vacation rents I think on the other side of the pond), but obviously do not want a house full of "wee" or "poo" to clean when new holidaymakers are arriving in a few hours. We were one the few people in our area who allowed pets in a holiday home. But there were conditions: we asked for a larger deposit (which we told the renters would be used on cleaning if necessary). Most pet owners were so glad to find somewhere they could stay in the heart of the countryside with their pet(s) that they were happy to pay a higher deposit. Almost everyone was very careful and considerate. We only had one case where there was a lot of dog mess left outside the house (we asked that this be cleared up before departure).

To be honest, almost all the pet owners were very responsible. We had more problems with young children making a mess than pets! One child tore up a toilet roll into tiny shreads and it was blown all over the house! Another left piles of sea shells scattered all over the front garden - and I mean a lot! Even then, the parents did apologise profusely and we let them off.

I would have thought that a reasonable compromise for a long-term let (which we have never done) would be to allow landlords to charge a larger deposit for accepting pets. This would protect them from possible damage - say urine-ruined floors or chewed furniture. I think most pet owners are so glad to find somewhere to live (as many are refused outright) that paying a slightly larger deposit would seem very acceptable.

I write this, of course, as a pet lover myself....