The number of rental homes in England openly marketed as pet-friendly has fallen by 39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be pulling back ahead of the Renters Rights Act taking effect on 1 May.
Analysis of current rental listings by inventory management platform Inventory Base shows that just 5.9% of available properties are now advertised as allowing pets – down from 8.2% at the start of the year.
Regional breakdown shows sharp falls
The East of England has seen the most dramatic decline, with pet-friendly listings down 50.9%. The East Midlands follows closely at 49.8%, while the South East has dropped 46.6%.
Yorkshire and Humber recorded a 45% fall, the South West 43.1%, and the North West 39.1%. The West Midlands saw pet-friendly listings fall by 37.9%, while London dropped 31.9% and the North East 31.2%.
Out of 98,964 available rental properties across England, just 5,839 are currently marketed as accepting pets.
RRA rules change landlord obligations
The Renters Rights Act introduces an implied term into tenancy agreements giving tenants the right to request a pet. Landlords will not be able to refuse unreasonably – and if they do refuse, they must explain why in writing within 42 days.
Industry observers suggest the drop in pet-friendly marketing may reflect landlord uncertainty about the new rules. Some may be choosing to remove explicit pet-friendly wording from listings to avoid setting expectations, while others could be waiting to see how the legislation is enforced.
This follows Residential Landlord’s analysis of landlord attitudes to pets ahead of the RRA, which found many holding back on advertising pet acceptance despite expecting to grant most requests in practice.
Practical challenges remain
Landlords have raised concerns about increased wear and tear, potential damage to fixtures and fittings, and the difficulty of evidencing pet-related issues at the end of tenancies. Insurance complications and leasehold restrictions add further layers of complexity.
The sharp regional variation suggests local market conditions may be influencing landlord behaviour. Areas with higher tenant competition may see landlords more willing to accept pets, while those with strong demand may feel less pressure to broaden their tenant pool.
For landlords who do accept pets, the RRA allows them to require tenants to take out pet damage insurance. The government has published guidance confirming this can be a condition of granting permission.
Opinion
The drop in pet-friendly listings suggests landlords are choosing caution over clarity as the RRA deadline approaches. Whether this represents a temporary pause or a longer-term shift away from explicit pet marketing remains to be seen. Tenants may find that the right to request a pet does not translate into more pet-friendly homes being advertised – even if more landlords end up saying yes in practice.
