Dogs and cats and other pets can make a huge difference to your life. In fact it would be more precise to say they take over your life, for better and for worse. For us pet owners - I have a 3 year old Podengo dog - you couldn’t do without them though and can be a valuable aid for Londoners’ health, mental health and overall wellbeing.
However, for London pet fans who are renting, things are not quite so simple. Finding pet-friendly rental homes can be extremely challenging.
According to Dogs Trust, 15% of all handover enquiries are from owners relinquishing their pets because they are experiencing issues with accommodation, while Cats Protection’s CATS Report reveals that over half a million households who would like a cat don’t have one because their rental agreement forbids it.
Professionally managed rental homes provider Leaf Living has now teamed up with both organisations ahead of World Pet Day on 30th November, to highlight the ever-increasing need for pet-friendly rented homes in the UK.
Leaf Living’s CEO Will Montague says, "People choose to rent for many reasons – it might be a financial decision, or they might prefer the flexibility that a rented home provides. Either way, pets are so often a part of the family and the reality is that the rental sector in the UK simply doesn’t meet the needs of prospective tenants.
“As a professional landlord of rented homes for families, we’ve worked hard to understand exactly what people need from their properties – and we’re proud to offer pet-friendly homes to our residents. We’ve had the joy of welcoming families with pets and seeing others embrace new ones, assured that they have a long-term home for their furry friends!"
Claire Wilson-Leary, Public Affairs Manager at Dogs Trust says, "The past three years have been the busiest on record for Dogs Trust. Heartbreakingly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed over to us is a lack of pet-friendly housing, leaving owners with no choice but to part with their beloved pets. Sadly, this same issue often prevents many potential adopters from offering homes to the hundreds of dogs currently in our care.
"At Dogs Trust, we have been campaigning for years to address this issue because we firmly believe that the joy of pet ownership should not be limited to homeowners. Renters deserve the opportunity to experience the life-enhancing companionship of a pet too. For far too long, those in rented accommodation have faced unnecessary barriers to pet ownership simply because of their housing situation."
The challenge extends to cat owners as well. Cats Protection’s CATS Report reveals that rental restrictions have become a significant barrier, with cat ownership among renters falling to just 24% over the past year. This decline highlights the impact of widespread no-pet policies that limit renters’ options.
Cats Protection is actively advocating for more inclusive rental policies and urging landlords to rethink restrictive practices; many landlords may have concerns that a cat will damage fixtures and fittings, yet 73% of cat-friendly private landlords report no problems at all from cats in their properties. Cats Protection also found that renters with pets also tend to stay longer in properties.
Under traditional private rental arrangements, pet ownership is often restricted or left entirely to a landlord’s discretion, limiting renters’ choices and contributing to the surrender of animals to shelters. Earlier this year, Zoopla pointed out that just 7% of all rental properties in the UK are listed as pet friendly*. This reality has created an environment in which many pet owners face difficult decisions, often being forced to choose between stable housing and the animals they love.
Here, one dog-loving renter tells their story:
‘It feels completely like my place’
Having moved out at 18 in search of independence, 27-year-old Jessica, a store manager at a pet care retailer, is one of the people trying to make sense of a challenging rental market. And like many renters, Jessica faced challenges in securing a pet-friendly property for her two dogs, Loki and Mac, while ensuring security and stability—a place that suited her lifestyle that she could truly call home for the long term.
Over the years, Jessica had experienced various rental situations, most recently sharing a three-bedroom apartment in Worthing with her partner, her brother, her brother's daughter, and Jessica’s dogs. While browsing Rightmove during a holiday, Jessica came across Fontwell Meadow, a build-to-rent development by Leaf Living near Arundel in West Sussex. A modern, two-bedroom house with a garden, that welcomed pets, immediately stood out against the properties on offer from traditional landlords; Jessica called and reserved her new home before even seeing it in person.
She and her partner secured their two-bedroom home for £1,425 per month, signing an initial 12-month contract.
“For me, trying to buy right now is too difficult and would mean sacrificing a lot of my independence. I moved out at 18, and now at 27, it suits me to continue renting but I want to live in a house that feels like a home, not a stop gap. Where I was living before moving here, it was definitely a squeeze. I wanted more space to build my life with my partner and provide room for my dogs and the future.”
Jessica recalls the first time they visited their new home: “I was so happy; it had everything we were looking for. The whole moving process was super easy because we didn’t need to deal with a separate estate agent. Everything was handled directly through Leaf Living. They even let me come beforehand to measure for furniture, so we felt really prepared.”
“As a pet owner, it can be very hard to find a high-quality rental home with modern amenities that also allows animals. Options don’t come up very often! My dogs are a huge part of my life—they come with me everywhere. So, it was important to me that my new home not only allowed pets, but also felt designed to accommodate them. The private garden is a bonus that Loki and Mac love. Opening the door to the garden for the first time was such a great feeling—they instantly fell in love with it.”
Jessica has especially appreciated the security the garden provides, particularly since Loki was diagnosed with glaucoma and struggles with his vision.
"Having a safe outdoor space where he can enjoy the sunshine is invaluable."
Leaf Living’s homes are thoughtfully located across the UK, prioritizing green spaces with good transport links, along with convenient access to nearby towns and villages.
Jessica says: “What really sold us was the lifestyle that came with it. The area is beautiful, with plenty of green space—perfect for dog walks! There’s something different about renting a house like this compared to anything I’ve rented before. I have more space, I’ve turned the second bedroom into a guest room, and I’ve been able to host family barbecues. I even hosted Christmas here, something I would never have dreamed of before moving into this home. It feels completely like my place, and I love it. I’ve added my own personal touches, like pictures on the wall, and I’m even picking out paint colours. Honestly, I can’t see myself leaving for a very long time.”
Dogs Trust has developed helpful resources for renters with pets, offering guidance and support to navigate pet owners facing housing challenges. To explore these resources and learn more about the vital work Dogs Trust does, visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk
Leaf Living provides professionally managed rental homes all over the UK. With new sites coming up in more areas across England, they are delivering quality homes for people - and pets. If you’re looking for a pet-friendly home to rent, visit: www.leafliving.com/findyourhome
