Lettings insurance supplier Paymentshield has changed its tenants’ contents product in anticipation of the Renters Rights Bill becoming law. 

The updated tenants’ contents policy adds further protections for damage that might be caused by a pet to a landlord’s property, with cover extending up to £10,000. 

The Renters’ Rights Bill, which is expected to become law this spring, will see landlords no longer able to “unreasonably” refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet at a property. However, landlords will be able to require a tenant has suitable insurance in place to cover any damage that the pet may cause to their property.  

The government’s Animal Sentience Committee released a report on the Renters’ Rights Bill that estimated “40% of tenants may request permission to keep a pet, of which one-third will be successful. With 4.6m private rented sector households in England this increase is potentially 0.6m pets”. 

The tenants’ contents insurance provided by Paymentshield is available on a rolling subscription model. 

A spokesperson for the insurer says: “The long-awaited Renters’ Rights Bill is set to reshape the private rental sector. Our team has been working hard to ensure that we’re well-placed to support both tenants and landlords throughout this time, and the changes to our tenants’ contents insurance policy reflect this. 

“Our updated policy means tenants will already have the cover in place to meet any stipulations from the landlord, making the addition of a pet to the house possible and providing peace of mind for both parties.”