Date Published 14 March 2025
Only 8% of rental properties advertised on the current market are pet-friendly, months ahead of the upcoming Renters' Rights Bill which is due to become law this spring/ summer. Just within the UK alone, it is projected that around 51% of adults own a pet therefore the incoming Bill is the latest effort by the government to upsurge pet-friendly properties throughout the rental sector.
The previous Conservative government lead by Theresa May had updated its model tenancy agreement to encourage landlords to become more tolerant of well-behaved pets, whilst the Renters Reform Bill (the previous Bill that eventually had not gone ahead) under former Tory PM Rishi Sunak, wanted a default pet-friendly status for properties unless landlords could provide a valid reason to reject them.
The incoming Renters Rights Bill holds a similar stance, and will insist that landlords cannot unreasonably refuse tenants' pets into their property. However, despite these incoming changes, out of the 101,908 rental properties currently listed on the market just 7,788 are described as pet-friendly (via ads listed on major letting portals). On a regional level, tenants with pets in the North East have the best chance of securing a home with 9% of listings currently marketed as pet-friendly. Throughout London, the South West, South East, and North West pet-friendly properties account for 8% of the market, which is then followed by the East of England (7%), East Midlands (6%), Yorkshire & Humber (6%), and West Midlands (5%).
Sam Reynolds of Zero Deposit, whom had carried out the survey, states: 'There's a natural reticence for landlords to open their property to pets for fear of the damage they can potentially cause. Many will have experienced pet damage to their properties which has shaped this preference. But these landlords are swimming against an increasingly fervent tide. The UK government is attempting to satisfy tenant demand for pet-friendly homes and when the Renters' Rights Bill is finally introduced, landlords will find it increasingly difficult to deselect lets with animal companions. While public opinion is naturally in favour of improving accessibility for pet-owners, landlord concerns do hold weight. Property damage costs money to repair. This spend can be challenging to recoup and can eat into profit margins. And while the Renters' Rights Bill disallows the blanket banning of pets, it also limits the amount of money landlords are allowed to take from their tenants for security deposits, further exposing landlords to the risk of property damage and, therefore, to loss of income. It is possible that the Bill will give landlords the right to insist that specific insurance is taken out to protect against pet-related damage, thus providing greater security.'
At Adams Estates, we always ensure all tenancies with pets are signed upon a pet agreement and security deposit paid reducing any risk for our landlords. If you require any support or guidance on allowing pets at your property or the upcoming developments resulting from the Renters' Rights Bill, please feel free to contact us.
