A lot of landlords are worried right now. The Renters’ Rights Act 2026 has changed the mood across the UK rental market. Whether people agree with the legislation or not, many landlords now feel that once a tenant moves in, it could become far harder, slower and more expensive to deal with problems if things go wrong.
The biggest fear with the news laws is not so much pets. It’s about affordability and tenants going into arrears.
Tenants Not Paying Rent
Because from conversations we are having daily at Pets Lets, landlords are far more concerned about tenants who stop paying rent than they are about a well-behaved dog sleeping on the sofa.
With the new laws, tenants can ‘legally’ go 3 months in arrears, and with the abolition of Section 21, the eviction process is a lot slower and therefore more costly.
The concern for many landlords now is:
“How do I choose the right tenant in a market where removing the wrong one could take months?”
That nervousness is leading to stricter referencing, more caution and landlords trying to reduce risk wherever possible.
A Real Life Case Study
I just had a client relocating from the US with a dog secure a property in South West London. The issue was that the client was mainly savings based rather than monthly income. We lost out on 2 properties and were lucky third time. The landlord was happy with the tenant profile and a dog. I worked closely with the estate agent on the process.
The real issue was the referencing agency. We got to a point where they would not accept a bank statement because there was an irregularity with the font on the paper. It seriously was a case of ‘computer says no’. We finalised it the day the client was flying from the US.
There is a growing amount of ‘red tape’ on the rental process. To the point, it can become more complicated than buying a UK property. I should know, I was a London buying agent for over 10 years. I still help clients with pets buy properties.
Now you have landlords very nervous about who they take on, and they can’t ask for extra deposits or insurance. Their hands are ‘tied’.
But ironically, many landlords may be overlooking one of the most stable tenant groups in the market: People with pets. They value properties more as they are hard to find.
The new laws do not make it ‘easier’ for people with pets. With a fast moving and competitive market, renting with pets does not put you ‘top of the list’ with landlords. Blocks still can say no to pets.
Tenants With Pets Often Treat a Property Like a Home
There is a big difference between a tenant simply “occupying” a property and someone genuinely making it their home.
Pet owners usually fall into the second category. People with pets are often looking for stability, routine and security. They are less likely to move every five minutes because relocating with pets is stressful, expensive and difficult.
That means many pet-owning tenants:
- Stay longer
- Look after the property
- Build relationships with neighbours
- Avoid unnecessary upheaval
- Want consistency for their animals
Longer-term tenants are usually good news for landlords too, meaning less void periods, less remarketing, less wear from constant move-ins and move-outs, less potential refurbishment costs and less risk overall.
Many Pet Owners Work From Home and Are Around the Property More
Another point that gets overlooked: A huge number of pet owners now work remotely or hybrid.
That means they are often home far more than traditional tenants. And what usually happens when people spend more time at home?
They clean more regularly because it’s their home where they spend a lot of time. They look after it.
Of course, every tenant is different. But the stereotype that pet owners are irresponsible simply does not match what we at Pets Lets https://petslets.com/ see in reality.
Some of the most organised, prepared and responsible applicants we deal with are tenants with pets.
Pets Are Not Automatically More Risky Than Sharers
This is the awkward conversation many agents and landlords still avoid. A single professional with one older Labrador is often viewed as “higher risk” than four unrelated sharers in their twenties.
Another real-life case study
From my own experience, I remember a Wimbledon property. A lovely lateral house with a garden. The sharers had trashed it. There was even a door hanging off the hinges. The landlord had to spend a fortune on refurbishment.
My client was a lovely couple with an elderly blind Beagle dog. They liked the lateral space as they worried about him with stairs.
As a landlord, would you chose sharers over this client?
No offence, but I sometimes think landlords hear the word ‘pet’ and all logical thinking ‘goes out the window’.
I am a landlord. I use Open Rent because I want to meet the tenant in person. If they have a dog or cat, I want to see if they are a responsible pet owner. I can work that out from talking to them about their pet, routines etc.
Sharers create more wear and tear. Tenant turnover is faster and you can lose control of the property. Cleaning standards vary as frankly they ‘care’ less.
Yet a calm tenant with a calm dog can still be ‘overlooked’ even with the new laws That blanket approach simply does not make sense anymore.
Good landlords should assess the tenant, not just the pet.
The Best Landlords Look at the Full Picture
The reality is this: A tenant with pets who has stable income, strong references, savings, a professional Pet CV and a history of responsible renting with a previous landlord reference may be significantly lower risk than a tenant without pets.
At Pets Lets, we regularly see landlords pleasantly surprised once they actually meet the tenant and understand the situation properly.
The problem is not pets. The problem is uncertainty. And good preparation changes everything.
Final Thoughts
The new rental laws have absolutely made landlords more cautious both with affordability and feeling ‘forced’ to say yes to pets. That is understandable.
But fear can also lead to poor assumptions.
In a rental market where good tenants matter more than ever, landlords who stay open-minded may actually end up with the most stable tenancies of all.
Because sometimes the tenant with the dog or a house cat is the safest bet in the building.
Need Help Navigating This?
If you’re unsure how to handle pet requests, structure clauses, or assess tenants properly, this is exactly what we deal with every day.
At Pets Lets, we work at the intersection of landlords, tenants, and pets making it work for everyone.
About the Author – Russell Hunt
Pets Lets Expert Insight
This article was written by Russell Hunt, co-founder of Pets Lets, a specialist service helping tenants secure pet-friendly property to rent in London and across the UK.
With more than 30 years of experience in the London property market, Russell works with tenants, landlords and estate agents to make renting with pets possible in practice, not just in theory. His work focuses on helping pet owners present strong applications, prepare properly for competitive markets, and navigate landlord concerns around pets.
Through Pets Lets, Russell supports UK tenants with pets as well as educates landlords with UK properties on the benefits of dog friendly rentals and cat friendly rentals in London and across the UK.
Russell also runs the community “Relocating to the UK with Pets”, helping thousands of members understand the realities of travelling to the UK with pets.
Learn more about pet-friendly renting advice and services at Pets Lets
For further guidance on renting with pets, visit Dogs Trust’s Lets with Pets
