There\u2019s only been a marginal increase in the number of pet-friendly rental listings in the run up to the Renters\u2019 Right Act, research compliance tech firm Inventory Base has found.<\/p>\n
An estimated 8.2% of properties in England are advertised as being pet-friendly, an annual increase of just 0.6% compared to January 2025.<\/p>\n
Si\u00e1n Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Inventory Base, said: \u201cAs the Act makes it harder to refuse pet requests or regain possession where pets are kept, landlords now need to prepare for the fact that more and more tenants are going to be pet owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs such, landlords must start focusing on protecting themselves against any financial costs this could possibly create.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best way to do this, given that landlords will not be allowed to take any additional deposit money to cover pet damage specifically, is by ensuring they complete comprehensive, accurate inventories with regular inspections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is now essential to evidence property condition, manage risk, and safeguard against the potential costs associated with pet-related damage in the new rental landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n
The North East is home to the most pet-friendly listings in the current market with the proportion standing at 11.5%. The region has also seen the biggest annual increase of 2.6%.<\/p>\n
In the South West, pets are explicitly welcome in 9.1% of all listings, while the other regions that have an above-average proportion of pet-friendly listings are London (8.8%), the South East (8.6%), and North West (8.5%).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the least pet-friendly region of England is the East Midlands, where landlords are welcoming furry friends in just 5.6% of listings. This marks an annual decrease of -0.5%, making the East Midlands the only region where pet-friendly listings are on the decline.<\/p>\n
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From 1st May, private rented tenants will have a legal right to ask their landlord\u2019s permission to keep a pet. This will be an implied term in all private tenancy agreements, meaning it applies even if the contract doesn\u2019t currently mention pets.<\/p>\n
Landlords won\u2019t be able to refuse every request automatically or simply because they don\u2019t like animals, so any refusal must be reasonable and justified with a proper written response. This may include situations where the property is too small to accommodate a large pet, or if another tenant is allergic to the proposed animal.<\/p>\n
The tenant\u2019s request must also be made in writing, including a description of the animal in question, and landlords will have 28 days to formally respond.<\/p>\n
And due to a ban on Section 21 evictions, it is also going to be harder for landlords to evict tenants even when they are found to be keeping a pet without the required permission. This is because landlords will have to provide solid proof that a pet has been kept in the home, which could be easier said than done.<\/p>\n
If a pet has caused damage to a property, the landlord might be able to use grounds 13 or 15 to force an eviction (these grounds cover where there has been deterioration in the property and\/or its furniture).<\/p>\n
Vitally, landlords will not be allowed to charge extra rent or fees specifically for having a pet.<\/p>\n
\nBreaking down The Renters Rights Act<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n