The vast majority of landlords have not had a single pet request since the introduction of the Renters Rights Act in May, despite this still being a major deciding factor for tenants.
Research by Leaders, which surveyed 717 landlords and 860 tenants across England and Wales, found 93% of the former have not had a single query about pets in their property.
This is despite similar research from RightMove which found “pets” was still one of the most often used terms in rental searches.
Leaders found nearly three in 10 tenants already own a pet, while a further 19% are either considering getting one or actively planning to do so in the next twelve months.
In terms of importance, the survey found that 34% of tenants say a pet-friendly property is essential, and they would only consider renting somewhere that permits one. A further 24% say it is either very or somewhat important. For 42%, it is not a factor in their decision at all.
When asked what would most increase their confidence in approving a pet request, 31% of landlords say a professional cleaning obligation at the end of the tenancy, and 28% say tenant-funded pet damage insurance. However, a similar proportion, 28%, say nothing would change their view.
"The formal requests are coming in slowly, and that is to be expected at this early stage. But the demand is real, and the legal framework is now in place,” said Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer for the Leaders part of LRG.
“What the data shows is that most landlords are not opposed to pets in principle — they want practical reassurance that their property will be looked after.
“That is exactly where agents can add value: helping landlords put the right conditions in place, supporting tenants through the request process, and making sure both sides understand what the new rules actually mean.”
