Pet insurance sales rise after renters gain stronger rights

There has been a flurry of new pets signed up for insurance since the new Renters’ Rights Bill came into effect on 1 May, according to UK pet insurance brand Waggel.

Since 1 May, tenants have a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet in their rented home, and landlords are obliged to consider requests fairly. This means property owners can no longer have a blanket ‘no pets’ policy.  

Waggel has seen a 26% increase in new pet insurance policies since 1 May, when the bill came into action, compared to the six months before that. When compared to April, an additional 20,000 people also came to Waggel looking for quotes in May.

Dogs emerged as the biggest winners from the new bill with a 28% increase in new dog policies in May, compared to 17% increase in cats.

Hannah Simpson, Chief Product Officer at Waggel, said: “It’s great to see the new legislation allowing so many people to welcome pets into their homes. Animal companionship can be incredibly rewarding, and has been proven to be beneficial for people’s mental and physical well-being, so denying people this lifeline because they don’t own their own home was terribly unfair.

“It’s clear from this flurry of new pet owners that thousands of people have been counting down until the new bill came in last month. We wish these new owners and their companions a long and happy life together.”