Allowing pets is one of the few decisions in short-term letting that genuinely splits owners down the middle. One group sees a larger market and higher rates; the other sees damage, allergens and extra cleaning. Both are right, and the sensible answer is not simply yes or no, but whether you can set the let up so that pets pay their way.
This piece lays out the real upside, the real risks, and the practical measures that let owners say yes without regretting it.
Why allow pets at all?
The strongest argument is demand. A large share of UK households own a pet, and pet owners consistently struggle to find places that will take them, so a well-presented pet-friendly listing competes in a much shallower pool.
That scarcity does two useful things. It tends to lift your occupancy, because you are visible to searches that filter for pet-friendly stays and invisible to nobody, and it supports a modest premium or a separate pet fee that pet owners are generally willing to pay. Pet owners also tend to book longer stays and return to places that welcomed them, which is worth more over a year than a single higher nightly rate.
What are the real risks?
It would be dishonest to pretend the downsides are trivial, because the reasons owners refuse pets are legitimate:
Animals bring wear and the occasional accident, from scratched doors and chewed skirting to stains and odours that a standard turnover clean will not lift.
Allergens are the bigger, quieter problem: pet dander lingers, and a future guest with an allergy can have a genuinely bad stay in a room a previous dog slept in, which turns into a poor review.
There is the noise and nuisance risk if a dog is left alone and barks, which in a residential Bristol street can become a neighbour complaint rather than just a guest one.
How do you protect the property?
The owners who make pets work do not rely on goodwill, they build protection into the booking.
A refundable pet deposit or a non-refundable pet fee gives you a cushion for extra cleaning and minor repairs, and setting it out clearly at booking avoids arguments later. Clear house rules should state how many pets are allowed and what size, whether they are permitted on furniture or beds, that they must not be left alone if that is your rule, and that owners are responsible for any damage and for clearing up after them in the garden and communal areas.
Sensible furnishing helps as much as any rule. Hard or wipeable flooring, washable covers and throws, durable fittings and a designated pet area make a pet-friendly let far easier to reset between stays, and we cover the durability side in how to furnish a holiday let for maximum bookings.
Does allowing pets change your cleaning and insurance?
Yes to both, and this is where the extra fee earns its keep. A pet stay needs a deeper turnover than a standard one, with more attention to floors, soft furnishings and ventilation, and ideally a longer gap before an allergy-sensitive guest checks in.
Our cleaning standards and turnover guide sets out the baseline to build on. On cover, you should check that your policy does not exclude pet-related damage and that your liability cover is appropriate, since standard home insurance rarely fits a let in the first place; we explain the right cover in insurance requirements for serviced accommodation.
How do you keep control of which pets stay?
Allowing pets does not mean accepting every animal without question, and a little screening prevents most problems. Ask about the pet at the point of booking, its type, size and number, and reserve the right to decline where it clearly would not suit the property. A short, friendly question at booking is far easier than a difficult conversation after a stay.
So, should you do it?
For most well-located short-term lets, allowing pets is worth it, provided you charge appropriately, furnish for durability, clean thoroughly and set clear rules. The properties where it does not pay are those with delicate finishes, a strong allergy-sensitive guest base, or neighbours who would not tolerate the extra risk.
If you would like help deciding whether a pet policy fits your Bristol property, and setting up the fees, rules and cleaning routine to match, we are happy to advise. Contact the team today or read more about our short-let management in Bristol.
