A growing number of insurers and property groups are backing the Heads for Tails! campaign, which is urging the government to reinstate pet damage insurance as part of rental reform.

Total Landlord Insurance is among the latest organisations to support the initiative, alongside Addept Group. They are joined by the Cornwall Landlords Association, The Letting Partnership and The Lettings Industry Council, as well as landlords, property lawyers and campaigners pressing for insurance-led solutions to the issue of pet ownership in rented housing.

The campaign, launched in 2021 with support from more than 80 MPs and corporate bodies, argues that insurance is the most practical way of protecting landlords while enabling tenants to keep pets.

Founder Jen Berezai, in a Landlord Zone report, said no existing backers had withdrawn and further industry support is expected before the Renters’ Rights Bill resumes its consultation in September.

Is pet damage cover needed?

The House of Lords previously rejected a requirement for pet damage insurance, citing concerns over affordability and whether insurers were prepared to handle demand at scale. Instead, peers supported a three-week pet deposit, which critics argue disadvantages tenants in higher-rent areas.

For insurers, pet damage cover has typically been bundled within accidental damage or contents policies, but the scale of demand linked to rental reform could require dedicated standalone products. Underwriting appetite may also hinge on clearer claims data around the frequency and severity of pet-related losses, particularly in relation to carpets, fixtures and furniture.

Supporters of the campaign say insurers are well-placed to offer consistent cover across the market, avoiding the regional disparities created by deposits. With interest in pet-friendly rentals rising, advocates argue that scalable insurance solutions could open up new business opportunities for carriers while providing landlords and tenants with greater certainty.

On September 1, Berezai plans to submit an open letter to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, accompanied by a briefing paper setting out why insurance should be seen as the preferred mechanism for managing pet-related risks in the private rented sector.