Renters Rights Act pet policy makes little impact, claims agency
Summary
An agency report suggests the Renters Rights Act pet-request provisions have had limited visible impact so far, with most landlords in the survey saying they have not received any formal pet requests since the right came into force on 1 May. The article also notes that tenant search behaviour may be changing, with fewer people filtering specifically for pet-friendly rentals even though pets remain a major rental search term.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in lettings, landlord advice or portfolio management should note the changing tenant-rights landscape and how it may affect rental demand, property marketing and landlord decision-making. The findings also indicate that compliance expectations around pet requests may be evolving even if take-up appears low at present.
Key points
- LRG surveyed 717 landlords and 860 tenants across England and Wales.
- 93% of landlords said they had not received a formal pet request since the right came into force.
- Rightmove data showed sharp year-on-year falls in searches filtering for pet-friendly rentals in May and June 2026.
- LRG argues tenants may be using the new formal request route instead of filtering only for pet-friendly listings.
- The report says many tenants have been affected by no-pets policies, supporting the rationale for the new right to request.
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