24/09/2026
I've always supported pets for the right tenants, and that's the key. Take time to get a feel for them and their character upfront. Of course, there are times when it's just not appropriate...
Here are some facts
🦮 Since 1 May 2026, renters in England have had the right to formally ask their landlord to keep a pet, and landlords must not unreasonably refuse. So far, that right has been used very little: 93% of landlords have received no requests at all, while 6% have approved one and fewer than 0.3% have refused.
🦮 Search behavior hints at hidden demand. Rightmove searches filtering for pet-friendly homes fell 54% year-on-year in May, and 52% in June, yet pets stayed the most-searched rental keyword both months - renters may just be asking directly instead of filtering.
🦮 For many renters, a pet-friendly home isn’t optional: 34% call it essential and would only rent somewhere that allows one, with a further 24% saying it’s very or somewhat important.
🦮 Landlords look more open than approval rates suggest: most report no pet-related damage, and where it occurs it costs less on average than damage from tenants without pets. A cleaning obligation or pet-damage insurance would reassure many, though 28% say nothing would change their minds.
Source: LRG, based on responses from 717 landlords and 860 tenants across England and Wales.
Visualisation: Dataloft by PriceHubble