England's Renters' Rights Act halves pet‑friendly rental searches

The Renters' Rights Act introduced in May gives English renters the legal right to keep pets, preventing landlords from unreasonably refusing pet ownership. After the law took effect, Rightmove data showed a sharp decline in searches for pet‑friendly rental properties – down 54% in May and 52% in June compared with the same months a year earlier.

Industry experts say the drop reflects a misunderstanding among tenants who now expect landlords to discuss pet arrangements later in the letting process. While landlords must consider requests fairly, they can still refuse pets for valid reasons such as another tenant's allergy, insufficient space, illegal animal types, or constraints from a freeholder. The change follows cases like a London tenant who was forced to surrender her dog before the new rules were in place.

Agents warn that the shift in power may lead to more nuanced negotiations, but the overall demand for pet‑friendly rentals appears to be decreasing as tenants adjust to the new legal framework.