Renting with animals - why is it almost impossible?

Priapus

Priapus

Priapus

Soldato
Joined
30 Jul 2004
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10,572
Location
East Sussex, UK
We moved to the UK around a year ago and brought our pets with us — they’re part of our family.

We were fortunate to find a rental property (albeit an expensive one) that allowed pets. Now, we’re hoping to move closer to family and reduce our rental costs so we can begin saving for a house deposit in the medium term.

We’ve been actively searching for over six months, but around 95% of listings explicitly don’t allow pets. In the few cases where pets are considered, our applications have still been unsuccessful — despite having a household income well above the affordability threshold (we currently pay £2,495, yet are applying for places around £1,800), along with excellent references and a clean credit history. The feedback is always the same: “The landlord chose another applicant.”

Why do so many landlords refuse tenants with pets? For a country that clearly loves animals — particularly dogs — the widespread restrictions seem contradictory.

This issue seems significant enough that new legislation is currently progressing through Parliament to address it. Still, we’re not optimistic it will bring much real change in the next couple of years.

We’ve even offered above the asking rent and proposed tenancy clauses like agreeing to replace carpets if necessary — even though our pets are fully house-trained and have never damaged a property. Yet it continues to be a major barrier.

Our only option seems to just suck it up and keep saving towards a deposit for a house.
 
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Priapus said:
1. We're brining our animals over; as they're part of the family.
Three medium sized dogs and a small dog (and two cats) - costs aside, how difficult is it going to be to find a place for all of them?
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Sounds like you probably still have a lot of pets, probably quite an important bit of information to include as to why you've been rejected so far. Why would a landlord want to take on someone with so many dogs and cats compared to someone with no pets?
 
Stumble Bum said:
Sounds like you probably still have a lot of pets, probably quite an important bit of information to include as to why you've been rejected so far. Why would a landlord want to take on someone with so many dogs and cats compared to someone with no pets?
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The number of pets are not the issue here. We are not even getting that far 95% of the time. It's "No pets" not "Only X number of pets". We have only been able to make around two applications where pets have been allowed. Out of the hundreds of properties available for renting.

The number of pets is not the issue here.
 
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Stumble Bum said:
Sounds like you probably still have a lot of pets, probably quite an important bit of information to include as to why you've been rejected so far. Why would a landlord want to take on someone with so many dogs and cats compared to someone with no pets?
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Exactly. It’s their house at the end of the day.
 
Brazo said:
Because in some cases the pets can make a mess and people don’t clean up after them. As a landlord myself why would I take someone with a pet and risk damage when I can choose the easy route?
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That's understandable. Wouldn't damages be covered by the deposit though? Or would that not be enough?
 
Priapus said:
The number of pets are not the issue here. We are not even getting that far 95% of the time. It's "No pets" not "Only X number of pets". We have only been able to make around two applications where pets have been allowed. Out of the hundreds of properties available for renting.

The number of pets is not the issue here.
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But extra mud, sick, poo, pee, scratching, marking and general animal smells isn't? :D
 
Priapus said:
The number of pets is not the issue here.
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It definitely is.

Whilst any pets will be problematic, you could probably manage to find somewhere with just 1 dog or 1 cat. I know plenty of people who rent with a single pet and whilst it's more difficult finding somewhere, it isn't impossible. But 4 dogs and 2 cats is a much bigger red flag - that's way above the average number of pets.

It's ultimately your choice to have that number of pets - nobody else is obliged to accommodate whatever insane life choices you've made. People give up pets when their circumstances change every day, I've had to do it myself in the past. Looks like now it's you facing that decision.
 
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MichaelAwkward said:
It definitely is.

Whilst any pets will be problematic, you could probably manage to find somewhere with just 1 dog or 1 cat. I know plenty of people who rent with a single pet and whilst it's more difficult finding somewhere, it isn't impossible. But 4 dogs and 2 cats is a much bigger red flag - that's way above the average number of pets.
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As I have mentioned, we are told. "No pets" 95% of the times, without even mentioning how many pets we have. And again, I feel this is a significant enough issue that the government had to step in and create a law for it - to force landlords to accept pets in most cases.
 
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Priapus said:
As I have mentioned, we are told. "No pets" 95% of the times, without even mentioning how many pets we have. And again, I feel this is a significant enough issue that the government had to set in and create a law for it - to force landlords to accept pets in most cases.
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Why on earth would the government get involved in what is ultimately a private transaction? You'd then have people like you taking the pee with 20 pets of all varieties stinking someone else's property out, leaving marks everywhere, causing damage, etc. It's not a human right to keep animals...
 
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MichaelAwkward said:
Why on earth would the government get involved in what is ultimately a private transaction? You'd then have people like you taking the pee with 20 pets of all varieties stinking someone else's property out, leaving marks everywhere, causing damage, etc. It's not a human right to keep animals...
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Now you're just exaggerating. And the government have stepped in because clearly most landlords are unreasonable and just say no to any pet.

Here's the bill if you want to read it: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3462
 
Priapus said:
Now you're just exaggerating. And the government have stepped in because clearly most landlords are unreasonable and just say no to any pet.

Here's the bill if you want to read it: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3462
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Have you even read it? It doesn't give carte blanche to keeping any number of animals you wish in a rented property.
 
MichaelAwkward said:
Have you even read it? It doesn't give carte blanche to keeping any number of animals you wish in a rented property.
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Yes, I have read it. Of course it doesn't. It does however say that landlords cannot refuse animals because they don't like them or because they worried about damage. They can refuse them, under reasonable circumstances- such has having a two large dog in a flat. Probably not a good idea. And the landlord would be in their right to refuse it.

However, a landlord refusing you having 1 small dog in a 5 bedroom detached house, is just being silly. Yet, that is the case currently where even if the house is big - with plenty of space - landlords are say no to ANY pets.
 
Priapus said:
Yes, I have read it. Of course it doesn't. It does however say that landlords cannot refuse animals because they don't like them or because they worried about damage. They can refuse them, under reasonable circumstances- such has having a two large dog in a flat. Probably not a good idea. And the landlord would be in their right to refuse it.

However, a landlord refusing you having 1 small dog in a 5 bedroom detached house, is just being silly. Yet, that is the case currently where even if the house is big - with plenty of space - landlords are say no to ANY pets.
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Good for them - it’s still their house.
 
Priapus said:
Yes, I have read it. Of course it doesn't. It does however say that landlords cannot refuse animals because they don't like them or because they worried about damage. They can refuse them, under reasonable circumstances- such has having a two large dog in a flat. Probably not a good idea. And the landlord would be in their right to refuse it.

However, a landlord refusing you having 1 small dog in a 5 bedroom detached house, is just being silly. Yet, that is the case currently where even if the house is big - with plenty of space - landlords are say no to ANY pets.
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It also gives landlords the right to require insurance - IMHO, reasonable circumstances would probably cover not wanting 6 pets in a house designed for 3/4 people. I don't know why you keep using different examples to make your point. You want to rent a house with 6 pets. That's the situation and it's likely to be nonviable, unfortunately for you.
 
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