Pictured above: Jill Elkington and Scrap, the family's 14 years old Jack Russell terrier

Every effort should be made to accommodate pet owners and their pets with the right privately rented property and landlord, according to Hodgson Elkington the Lincoln residential letting agents and chartered surveyors.

According to a recent surveyor by the Dogs Trust:-

78% of pet owners reported that they had experienced difficulties finding privately rented accommodation that would allow their pet.

54% of pet owners were never able to find suitable properties that accepted pets.

8% of people had to re home their pet.

The Dogs Trust has launched its "Lets With Pets" Campaign, which is backed by Hodgson Elkington, to show landlords and letting agents that renting properties to tenants with pets can be straight forward and does make business sense.

"Deciding whether or not to accept pets in your property can seem like a big decision, particularly if you have little experience with pets yourself. But it's something that you should consider as almost half of the UK population currently owns a pet," said  Jill Elkington, Midlands spokesperson for The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) and residential letting manager for Hodgson Elkington.

Pets come in all shapes and sizes and the Dogs Trust have produced a guide to the type of pet that tenants are most likely to own. With almost 5 million people living in privately rented accommodation in the UK, the Dogs Trust receives many enquiries from  pet owners who are struggling to find privately rented accommodation that will accept their pets. All too often people are forced to live in unsuitable properties or keep pets without consent from their landlords. In some extreme cases owners are even having to give up their pets or else face becoming homeless.

Hodgson Elkington are supporting tenants by actively seeking landlords who will allow pets in their properties subject to the pet being suitable for the type of accommodation taken. Pets and tenants will be asked to give detailed information of their veterinary practice; vaccination, flea and worm treatments etc and an additional deposit will be required.

A specially worded Pets Policy will be integrated with the Tenancy Agreement and said Jill Elkington"I feel that this is an important aspect in our service to clients."

She added that in line with the Lets with Pets guidelines, the tenant and their pet must also pass Hodgson Elkington's  referencing procedure in order to qualify.