Landlords could soon be housing a wave of new cats and dogs, with up to one million private rented households expected to welcome pets if the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law.

An analysis by comparison site Go.Compare suggests there is significant pent-up demand among tenants who have previously been blocked from keeping animals. Under the Bill, landlords would need to justify any refusal when tenants request permission for a pet — a major shift from the current system, where landlords can say no without explanation.

Boom in new pet owners

Rhys Jones, pet insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Seeing the Renters’ Rights Bill introduced was a really positive step for tenants in the private rental sector, as it will hopefully give them more security and stability, and improve overall conditions. 

Measures like this one, making it easier for renters to keep pets, will also help to make renting a more comfortable and flexible housing option for many.”

He warned that with so many tenants planning to get pets once the rules change, the sector could witness a boom in new animal owners across England.

What tenants say

Go.Compare’s survey found that 42% of renters who had previously been rejected, or had yet to make a formal request, would consider getting a pet under the new rules.

The most popular choices were cats (56%) and dogs (52%), with many tenants keen to introduce animals into their households.

Insurance gaps

However, the research also revealed gaps in preparedness. Around 8% of tenants said they would definitely not take out pet insurance, and a further 18% remain undecided. Taken together, this equates to as many as 269,000 households potentially keeping pets without financial cover for vet bills.

Pet organisations warn that prospective owners must factor in the full costs of ownership, including food, veterinary care, insurance, and potential property damage — which landlords often cite as a reason for restricting pets in the first place.

Landlords warn of risks

While the proposals are being welcomed by tenants and animal welfare groups, landlord representatives are more cautious.

A submission to Parliament by iHowz, the professional association for private landlords, noted:  “Often pets cause damage … that landlords will have to rectify when the tenant moves on.”

The group has argued that tenants wishing to keep animals should be required to maintain pet insurance at all times:  “We propose that tenants wishing to keep pets should be obligated to have appropriate pet insurance all the time they have pets.”

iHowz has also called for greater clarity in legislation, stating:  “The Bill should define ‘pet’ clearly, e.g. household pets kept indoors etc., to avoid ambiguity.”

More recently, in response to the removal of a compulsory pet-damage insurance clause from the draft Bill, iHowz and other landlord bodies warned that the change risks making landlords more reluctant to accept pet-owning tenants:  “Without the insurance option, landlords may prefer tenants without pets due to perceived risk.”

Tensions ahead?

With the Bill still making its way through Parliament, the debate over tenants’ rights versus landlords’ liabilities looks set to intensify in the coming months. Landlord bodies maintain that if pets are to be welcomed in rented homes, landlords must be given adequate protections to cover the costs of property damage and additional wear and tear.