Propertymark is highlighting new advice for agents and landlords given by Lets With Pets, the website of The Dogs Trust charity.

The agents’ trade body points out that it’s not the agents’ responsibility to check the legality of dogs kept by tenants but it suggests agents offer advice to landlords or tenants as appropriate, based on the Lets With Pets guidance.

This says that if an agent lets to a tenant who is the owner of an American Bully XL type dog, there are conditions which must apply:

– The dog must be  kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public;

– It must be neutered and microchipped, with the owner notifying the Index of Exempted Dogs any time their address changes;

– The owner must have Third Party Public Liability insurance, and must be willing to show any certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or dog warden.

If any owner does not comply, they risk their dog being seized and going through a court process to get them back.

The Dogs Trust says: “We ask that you make decisions on a case-by-case basis, the same as you would for any other pet.”

Currently owning or possessing an XL Bully dog in England and Wales is a criminal offence without a valid Certificate of Exemption; Scotland is in the process of introducing a similar law, likely to be in place by July 31; and the Northern Ireland parliament is intending to bring in similar rules in the near future.

The Dogs Trust has a model pet clause and policy which can be integrated into tenancy agreements – more details here.