It’s nearly Valentine’s Day and many people will be looking for ways to express love and affection for their partners, beyond material things.
But renters looking to use the most romantic time of the year to take the next step in their relationship should alert their landlord’s first.
Not doing so could see them violating their tenancy agreement, resulting in possible eviction, potential invalidation of the landlord’s insurance and even legal implications.
So, who’s willing to risk it all for love?
Specialist home insurance provider, Homeprotect, surveyed 2,000 UK adults to find out how many would move a partner or pet in, if they were renting a property – without informing their landlord.
The research revealed that almost a third (31%) of Brits would take this chance. However, more would be willing to take the risk for their partners than for a pet.
This was higher for men (33%) than women (29%) and younger people, with over half of respondents from Generation Z saying they would do it without informing their landlord, compared with just seven percent of the Silent Generation (79+).
Regional data revealed that almost half of Greater London residents (46%) would move a partner or pet into their rental home without informing their landlord. Interestingly, in this region, tenants are more willing to risk it for their partners (28%) than a pet (21%).
| Would you move a partner or pet into your home without informing their landlord? | |||||
| Region | Yes | No | Yes (Partner) | Yes (Pet) | Don’t know |
| Greater London | 45.59% | 42.91% | 27.97% | 21.84% | 11.49% |
| East Midlands | 38.78% | 50.34% | 25.85% | 17.69% | 10.88% |
| North West | 34.39% | 51.58% | 19.91% | 18.55% | 14.03% |
| West Midlands | 33.52% | 52.84% | 21.02% | 16.48% | 13.64% |
| Wales | 29.79% | 57.45% | 20.21% | 13.83% | 12.77% |
| Northern Ireland | 28.57% | 57.14% | 14.29% | 19.64% | 14.29% |
| North East | 28.05% | 53.66% | 15.85% | 13.41% | 18.29% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 26.83% | 58.54% | 17.68% | 12.80% | 14.63% |
| Scotland | 26.67% | 58.18% | 15.76% | 12.73% | 15.15% |
| East of England | 26.63% | 57.61% | 15.76% | 15.22% | 15.75% |
| South East | 23.10% | 62.82% | 12.64% | 14.08% | 14.08% |
| South West | 19.08% | 65.90% | 9.83% | 10.40% | 15.03% |
The South West is the most honest region, with 66% saying they would not risk moving a partner or pet into their rental home without their landlord’s permission. However, it seems they would be more willing to break the rules for pets than partners.
The South East is the second most honest, with 63% stating they would not be willing to move a pet or partner into their rental without their landlord’s permission. This region would also be more inclined to cover up a pet than a partner.
Those in Northern Ireland were in the middle ground, but almost a fifth of those who said they would risk moving a partner or pet in would do this for a pet and not a partner, the biggest pro-pet difference in partner and pet preferences.
But why is it dangerous to risk love over leases, whether it be a partner or a pet?
David Joyson, Homeprotect’s Chief Customer Officer, reveals all:
“While people may be tempted to move their partner or a new pet into their rental home, the one thing you should do first is to check your tenancy agreement and gain the appropriate permissions from your landlord before doing so.
“When signing a tenancy agreement, there are often strict terms of occupancy indicating the dos and don’ts – which may not allow pets or additional occupants that weren’t included in the original rental agreement.
“Despite policies such as the Renters Rights Bill banning ‘no-fault evictions’ and advocating for no discrimination against people with pets, if discovered to be in breach of an existing tenancy agreement, your landlord can issue you a Section 8 notice and could even fine you or take legal action against you.
“Plus, it could also invalidate your and their insurance policies.
“Landlords have a legal duty to ensure their property is maintained by law – including health, safety and occupancy regulations. This includes seeking appropriate insurance to protect their property from financial risks associated with renting out to tenants, for example damage of the building or theft and damage of its contents.
“Meanwhile, as a tenant, it’s advisable to get tenant insurance, which protects you and your belongings from things such as theft, fire, floods and accidental damage.
“Breaking your tenancy agreement could invalidate your policy, meaning that if there is any damage to the property or its contents, it may no longer be covered. Your landlord may also find their own insurance policy wouldn’t cover them.
“Whether for love or otherwise, it’s always best to play by the rules of your tenancy agreement and seek your landlord’s permission before moving a partner or pet in. If they say yes, let your insurer know if a partner or pet is moving in with you.
And if your landlord doesn’t allow it in your terms, it’s best to find another property that better suits your needs.”
