In considering pet ownership, many people factor in the time and money involved in their upkeep and healthcare, yet few consider how pets will impact their property and the costs involved in repairing or preventing damage. Most Home Insurance policies do not include accidental damage caused by pets, so it is worth budgeting for repairs and replacements unless a policy specifically includes pet damage.

Money Supermarket suggest the average dog owner spends £164 annually in home repairs following pet damage; this amounts to a national spend of £1.7 billion per year. According to this research, the most common items damaged by dogs are: carpets (20%), sofas and rugs (17%), chairs (14%) and wooden floors (12%).  What’s more, research suggests evidence of pets can devalue a house by up to £11,000 (or 4%), bad news indeed for anyone with furry friends hoping to sell their property.

With this in mind, the following article outlines how pets can typically impact a property, points to be aware of and what can be done to minimise any damage caused.

Inside your home

Accidental damage

When you think of a happy dog, you think of a waggy tail, and with that every moveable object at tail-height is at risk (think: ornaments, vases, photo frames…)! Cats often knock objects off shelves, or cups and glasses from counter-tops or tables.

Much like child-proofing a home for under five-year-olds, it is worth moving high value or easily breakable objects out of the reach of your pet (although some, like agile cats, can get to most places). Installing stair gates is one way to restrict accessto dogs in specific rooms or areas of the house; these start at around £25, but expect to pay more for wider models (and be aware many dogs can jump over stair gates!).

Fouling and Vomiting

Good training can of course prevent the worst fouling, but accidents will happen and if a pet is suddenly unwell it is unlikely you’ll get them to an area of washable flooring in time to prevent damage to a carpet or rug. Investing in a good steam cleaner (usually around £150, but small, handheld appliances can be found for around £60) would allow you to thoroughly clean up after accidents.

Chewing and scratching

Chewing and scratching are ubiquitous in the pet world; even the best trained animals often chew or scratch to a small extent. Dogs, cats and house rabbits are common culprits. Damage is often seen to closed doors, or walls around where a stair gate has been installed to keep dogs out of a particular area. Depending on the extent of the damage, repair work can range from a simple paint touch up, to skimming over or replastering, and repainting of the wall(s).

Pets such as house rabbits will generally chew wooden furniture and upholstery, as well as any available cables.One homeowner recounted the story of how their house rabbit swiftly became a garden rabbit: her nerves couldn’t take another loud bang, immediately followed by the sight of their beloved bunny flying backwards across the room after he had chewed through yet another cable. It’s hard to understand how he survived four electrocutions in the space of a few months, but after the final incident he was moved to the garden!

The solution, then, is to ensure all cabling is tied to be as short as possible and tucked away, out of reach of the rabbit or other nibble-prone pet. However, much like cats getting to high-up shelves and windowsills, rabbits can find their way into the smallest space or escape pens fairly easily. Dogs especially like to dig and, if kept indoors, they often attempt to ‘dig’ into a lovely carpet or rug, resulting in tears and holes. Rabbits have the additional downside of being impossible to train in this respect, so the best idea would be to provide them with plenty of toys (in particular wooden toys to chew), restrict them to an area of the house where they can do minimal damage, or have them living outside.

Fur/Hair

Anyone who has ever had a pet, or even looked after one for a spell, will tell you that pet hair gets everywhere. Pet owners need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner and will have to vacuum more often than those in a pet-free home. The good news is that there are several vacuum cleaners on the market specifically designed to pick up pet hair, as well as some cordless and handheld vacuums that are useful for quick ‘spot cleans’ and vacuuming around the house with ease. The lower end of the spectrum falls around £160, but can go upwards of £250 for upmarket brands and cordless appliances.

Odours

From food bowls to litter trays, dog/cat bedding to small animals’ cages, the paraphernalia associated with pet ownership emit odours over time, even when they are kept clean. The seasoned pet owner will have become so accustomed to these smells, they will barely register them in their house! But to a guest or potential buyer, they are distinct and can be unpleasant in some cases. Of course, responsible pet ownership entails keeping bedding, litter trays and food bowls clean. As with fur/pet hair, it is simply a matter of cleaning more often and more thoroughly than non-pet households, as well as increasing ventilation through windows and open doors at times.

Fleas

Pets can carry fleas and bring these into the home. Flea eggs can lay dormant for many years in carpets and upholstery, so it is worth applying preventative treatment to your pet as regularly as advised (by Vet) to prevent an infestation. Hiring pest control experts to deal with a full-blown infestation will be costly and nobody likes the thought of living with fleas.

According to My Pet and I, fleas can lay up to 50 eggs each day on a cat or dog. After being scattered around your home (and they truly are scattered, 95% of the eggs will be around the house, with only 5% remaining on the pet itself), the eggs develop into larvae, pupae and finally the adult stage, after which they can re-infest your pet. All in all, prevention is key and far better than trying to rid soft furnishings and bedding of an infestation.

If fleas are not treated in time, RSPCA have issued guidance

In the garden

Accidental damage

Similar to accidental damage caused by pets indoors, you can expect a certain amount of knocking over of plant pots, digging the lawn etc. when you have pets at home. Cats often like to dig up freshly dug soil. Whilst rabbits grazing outdoors might help to keep dandelions on your lawn at bay, they may also be partial to the leaves from a fruit bush (and the fruit itself).

Some garden plants are poisonous to cats, dogs and rabbits,  so it is imperative owners are careful about what is growing or planted in their garden and restrict access to these plants if necessary.

Also similar to indoor damage, some pets may scratch or chew wooden furniture or fencing in the garden.

Fencing

Secure fencing is a must for dog or rabbit owners. Not only does this help make sure pets don’t escape, but it can also help prevent visits from foxes and other dogs. A secure fence will also make it more difficult for intruders to gain access to the garden and house; with cases of pet theft increasing, it is important that damaged panels or sections of fence are repaired or replaced in a timely manner. Similarly, keep garden gates locked.  

Community Relations

Irregular barking is not generally classed as a ‘statutory nuisance’ by Local Authorities, but it is worth bearing in mind that regular, prolonged barking could be a nuisance and neighbours can complain to their Local Authority about this if they feel it interferes with their enjoyment of their home and/or garden. It is worth dog owners being mindful of the level of noise their pet creates and keeping this at a low level to maintain good neighbourly relations.

As a nation of animal lovers, pets are very much at the heart of many UK households. As pets are dear to so many of us, it is unrealistic to suggest anyone should be put off getting a pet by the likelihood that they will cause damage to their home. However, homeowners considering getting a pet should be aware of things they may have to repair or put more time and effort into maintaining/cleaning, ‘pet-proofing’ measures they may have to employ or garden plants they might need to avoid. Just like prospective pet owners budget for vet bills and insurance, they need to account for additional household repairs and maintenance to minimise the impact pets can have.