Demand soars for pet-friendly rental homes
Are you among the millions of households across Britain sharing your home with a new best friend?
The ‘pandemic pet boom’ has seen more than a third of UK households become pet owners since the first lockdown period in March 2020.
And we’re now seeing the rise in pet ownership translate to the rental market, with demand from tenants looking for pet-friendly properties up by 120% in a year.
The significant increase in demand, which is measured by prospective tenants enquiring about properties via Rightmove, compares to total tenant demand rising by 13%.
Our property expert Tim Bannister says this could impact the types of homes renters search for long-term.
He says: “Becoming a pet owner is a long-term commitment, so what’s really interesting to consider is the impact this could have on the rental market in the future, and it’s a signal to landlords that if they were to consider allowing a well-behaved pet then it may open them up to a bigger pool of potential tenants.”
Ian Gibbs, Director of Neighbourhoods at Get Living, agrees. “We’ve also seen a substantial increase in people looking for a home that allows cats or dogs. Get Living became pet-friendly across all its neighbourhoods last summer, and one fifth of potential residents mention pets specifically as part of their requirements.” he says.
What tenants want
Over the past year, with many home movers prioritising outside space, the demand for properties with a balcony has increased by 70%, while demand for homes with gardens has risen by 39%. Parking has also increased in popularity (+48%), and one of the most common requests from renters, for all bills to be included, is up by 38%.
Ten most popular terms used in Keyword Sort for renters
| 1. Pet friendly / Pets allowed |
| 2. Balcony |
| 3. Garden |
| 4. Furnished |
| 5. Garage |
| 6. Bills included |
| 7. Parking |
| 8. New build |
| 9. Terrace |
| 10. Ensuite |
READ MORE: Rental hotspots: ten areas with the biggest rent rises
Photo by Katja Bayer on Unsplash
