Renters Gain Pet Rights, But Searches Plummet 50%

Searches for rental properties that permit pets saw a significant decline of over 50% in May and June compared to the previous year, following the introduction of new renter rights in England. These changes, part of the Renters' Rights Act, stipulate that landlords cannot unreasonably deny requests to keep pets.

Despite the legal shift, misunderstandings appear to be widespread. Agents report some tenants wrongly assuming guaranteed pet permission, while landlords cite concerns about property suitability for certain animals. Consequently, proactive filtering for pet-friendly homes has reduced, even though pets remain a common search preference.

Landlords can still refuse pets for valid reasons, such as allergies among other tenants, insufficient property size, or if the pet is illegal. Some tenants have reportedly disclosed pets late in the process or had them discovered during inspections, highlighting a power shift in the letting process.

Organizations representing landlords express understanding of pet companionship but voice legitimate concerns over potential property damage and inappropriate pet ownership. They suggest using 'pet CVs' for more careful consideration of pet requests, moving beyond blanket refusals for large or multiple pets.