A recent study has revealed that more than half a million renters in the UK have had requests to keep pets refused by their landlords. Many of these tenants say they were given no fair reason for the decision, leaving them frustrated and disappointed.
The figures come from research commissioned by Go Compare Pet Insurance earlier this year. According to their findings, around 16% of renters have previously been denied permission to have a pet in their home. When scaled across the population, this is thought to represent approximately 743,000 households nationwide.
The survey also found that the majority of tenants who had a pet request rejected felt that their landlord’s decision was not justified. In fact, almost four in five – an estimated 79% – believed the refusal was unfair. This translates to around 590,000 households across the country.
Landlords often cite similar concerns when explaining why they are unwilling to accept pets. Among the most common reasons are fears of damage to the property, worries about additional cleaning costs, or the possibility of nuisance and noise that may disturb neighbours.
In some cases, landlords also argue that their property is not suitable for certain animals, such as larger dogs, or they raise concerns about increased insurance costs linked to having pets in the household. While these issues can be valid, tenants argue that many landlords refuse outright without considering the individual circumstances.
The findings highlight a tension between landlords’ interests in protecting their properties and tenants’ desire for companionship and emotional support from pets. With Britain widely recognised as a nation of animal lovers, the survey reflects a growing frustration among renters who feel their lifestyle choices are being restricted.
Change, however, may be on the horizon. The upcoming Renters Rights Bill, which is expected to be passed into law in the coming weeks, could significantly alter the situation. The legislation will prevent landlords from unreasonably refusing requests to keep a pet.
Under the new law, landlords who want to say no will need to provide a valid and fair reason for doing so. This marks a significant shift from the current system, where many tenants feel they are at the mercy of their landlord’s preferences, regardless of fairness.
The introduction of the Renters Rights Bill has already sparked interest among renters. According to the survey, more than two in five tenants who had previously been refused – or who had never asked because they feared rejection – would consider getting a pet once the new rules are in place.
Of these, nearly a quarter currently do not own any pets but said they would like to once the law changes. This suggests that the new legislation could lead to a noticeable rise in pet ownership among renters.
A spokesperson for Go Compare commented on the findings, saying it was unfortunate that so many renters feel landlords have unfairly dismissed their requests. They explained that pets play an important role in people’s lives, offering companionship and wellbeing benefits that should not be taken lightly.
The spokesperson added that when the Renters Rights Bill comes into force, the process for making pet requests should become more transparent and fair. Landlords will no longer be able to refuse without explanation, and tenants will have stronger rights to challenge decisions they believe to be unreasonable.
Importantly, tenants who feel their request has been unfairly turned down will be able to escalate the matter. Options include taking the case to the newly established Private Rented Sector Ombudsman, which is intended to provide a straightforward route for resolving disputes.
If agreement still cannot be reached, tenants will have the option of taking their case to court as a last resort. This represents a major change in the balance of power between landlords and tenants and could provide much-needed reassurance to renters who have long felt powerless.
Ultimately, the findings show just how significant pets are to many households, and how frustrating it can be when landlords deny requests without fair reasoning. With new laws set to reshape the rental landscape, thousands of tenants could soon have the opportunity to welcome pets into their homes, creating a more balanced and compassionate rental market.