Pet-friendly properties: 26% longer tenancies, fewer voids
More than half of UK adults own a pet, and research from Battersea found that 76% of tenants either currently own a pet or aspire to take one on in the future.
Yet until recently, only around 7% of rental properties listed on Zoopla were advertised as pet friendly. That gap between what tenants want and what the market has offered is one of the most persistent tensions in the private rented sector, and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has now fundamentally altered the terms of it.
What the research actually shows
The headline figure from research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Dogs Trust and Cats Protection is one that landlords in particular should sit with. Twenty-six per cent of tenants said they would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet. In a market where void periods represent lost income and tenant turnover brings with it cleaning costs, redecoration, and re-letting fees, longer tenancies are not a soft benefit. They are a material one.
The same research found that 73% of landlords who have allowed pets reported no problems whatsoever. Damage to the property is consistently cited as the primary reason landlords refuse pets, yet only 20 to 21% of cases involving pets resulted in any property damage at all. The perception of risk, in other words, has significantly outpaced the reality of it.
What the Renters’ Rights Act changes for landlords
From 1 May 2026, blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements are no longer permitted. Tenants now have a legal right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords must consider that request and respond within 28 days. Refusing unreasonably is not a defensible position under the new legislation.
This does not mean landlords must accept every pet in every property. Reasonable grounds for refusal remain available, and landlords can require tenants to take out pet damage insurance as a condition of approval. A property with no outdoor space, a leasehold agreement that prohibits animals, or a situation where neighbouring tenants would be significantly affected by the presence of a pet can all constitute reasonable grounds. What is no longer available is a default no without consideration.
For landlords who have not yet updated their tenancy processes to reflect this change, doing so promptly is important. Failing to respond within the 28-day window, or refusing without documented reasonable grounds, creates legal exposure that is straightforward to avoid with the right processes in place.
What it means in practice for tenants
For tenants with pets, the new legislation is a significant shift. The requirement to find one of the small number of properties that explicitly permitted pets, or to conceal an animal from a landlord, belongs to a different era of renting. From May 2026, the right to ask is enshrined in law and the burden has moved to the landlord to justify any refusal.
In practice, approaching a pet request thoughtfully still makes sense. Providing information about your pet upfront, including breed, age, and any relevant training or veterinary history, gives a landlord the context to make a considered decision and demonstrates that you are a responsible owner. Offering to arrange pet damage insurance can also remove one of the most common landlord objections and make approval more likely.
The commercial case for pet-friendly letting
For landlords weighing the change with some reluctance, the evidence points in a consistent direction. Pet-owning tenants who find a property that accepts their animal tend to stay. They have a strong incentive to maintain the property well so that the tenancy can be renewed. In a market where pet-friendly rentals remain scarce, a pet owner who finds one is more likely to stay longer and look after their home to protect that position.
The 26% who said they would extend their tenancy if pets were allowed represents real, quantifiable value for landlords prepared to approach the question with an open mind and the right safeguards in place. Fewer voids, lower turnover costs, and more stable tenancies are outcomes that most landlords would welcome regardless of what the legislation requires.
Talk to our lettings team about managing pet requests under the new rules
This article was originally published by BriefYourMarket and is reproduced here with their permission.
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