Simply Business launches pet damage cover for landlords

Simply Business has launched a pet property damage product for landlords in partnership with MGA Elevate Specialty.

The cover provides up to £5,000 of protection with no excess for accidental damage to property, fixtures and fittings caused by pets.

It also includes legal support to help landlords evidence, negotiate and resolve disputed deductions.

The product has been launched as rental regulations evolve following the Renters’ Rights Act, which gives tenants greater ability to request permission to keep pets.

Julie Fisher, UK chief executive at Simply Business, said: “With the Renters Rights Bill fundamentally changing the landscape for landlords and tenants, we want to ensure our customers feel protected against new risks.

”Committed to helping landlords navigate these regulatory changes with confidence, our new pet property damage cover provides a solution that helps protect their investment while accommodating the growing number of tenants who want to own a pet.”

More pet owners

Research commissioned by the broker and conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 private renters in England found that 44% had welcomed a new pet or planned to get one in 2026.

Based on the firm’s estimate of around nine million adult private renters, this equates to approximately four million people.

Mickey Attia, chief executive at Elevate Specialty, said the proposition was designed around “real customer needs”.

“This is what we mean by insurance that works, offering practical protection that is there when it is needed,” Attia added.