Where are pet-friendly rentals easiest and cheapest to find?
Only around 5% of UK private rentals are listed as pet-friendly*. Availability and cost vary considerably from one area to the next, and a listing that doesn’t mention pets isn’t necessarily a ‘no’.
The rules changed on 1st May 2026. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords in England can no longer refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet without a fair reason, and they must reply in writing within 28 days. This applies whether or not a listing is marked ‘pets allowed’, so the label now tells only part of the story.
We analysed Zoopla listings across Great Britain and London borough, looking at how many rentals carry the ‘pets allowed’ label and what they cost once adjusted for home size. We also looked at how many of these homes have a garden.
*Data correct as at November 2026, [click here to explore the full data set]
Just 4.9% of UK rentals are listed as ‘pets allowed’
At the time of our analysis, 5,317 of the 108,671 rental properties we looked at carried the ‘pets allowed’ label. Here’s how that breaks down by nation:
- England: 4.9%
- Scotland: 4.2%
- Wales: 3.6%
England accounts for almost all pet-friendly listings, but where you live makes a big difference.
England: County Durham and Cornwall lead the way
Highest share of pet-friendly rentals:
- County Durham: 14%
- Cornwall: 12%
- North Yorkshire: 8.5%
Lowest share of pet-friendly rentals:
- Tyne and Wear: 0.5%
- Leicestershire: 1.9%
- Bristol: 2%
London: Waltham Forest has the highest share
Highest share of pet-friendly rentals:
- Waltham Forest: 15%
- Brent: 12%
- Westminster: 11%
Lowest share of pet-friendly rentals:
- Bromley: 1.4%
- Harrow: 1.6%
- Enfield: 1.8%
Scotland and Wales: far fewer pet-friendly listings
In Scotland, Clackmannanshire (33%) and East Lothian (15%) have the highest shares. Both are small rental markets, with just 13 pet-friendly listings between them.
In Wales, Pembrokeshire (8.8%) leads, ahead of South Glamorgan (4.5%) and West Glamorgan (3%).
Where are pet-friendly rentals the cheapest?
Of course, the size of rental properties varies, so we adjusted rents for home size to make comparisons fairer. Prices below reflect each area’s ‘two-bed equivalent’. This is roughly what a two-bedroom property would cost to rent, based on each area’s pet-friendly listings.
All comparisons are against the UK median for a pet-friendly two-bedroom rental of £1,351.50 per calendar month. This median excludes London.
England: cheapest counties
| County | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median Pet-friendly two-bedroom rental median: £1,351.50 PCM, excluding London |
Cheapest towns or cities in county Two-bed equivalent £PCM, rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Durham | £477 | ~65% cheaper | Ferryhill (£475), Hartlepool (£475), and Peterlee (£475) |
| Lancashire | £650 | ~52% cheaper | Nelson (£580) and Accrington (£638) |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | £675 | ~50% cheaper | Kingston upon Hull (£638) |
| Tyne and Wear | £676 | ~50% cheaper | Sunderland (£676) |
| Staffordshire | £850 | ~37% cheaper | Stoke-on-Trent (£768) |
England: most expensive counties
| County | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median Pet-friendly two-bedroom rental median: £1,351.50 PCM, excluding London |
Most expensive towns or cities in county
Two-bed equivalent £PCM, rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £3,187 | ~136% more expensive (or 2.4x) | See London boroughs tables |
| Oxfordshire | £2,187 | ~62% more expensive | Kidlington (£3,524) |
| Surrey | £2,123 | ~57% more expensive | Woking (£3,300), Esher (£3,190) and Haslemere (£3,080) |
| Berkshire | £2,002 | ~48% more expensive | Bracknell (£3,086), Windsor (£3,041) and Wokingham (£3,000) |
| Bristol | £1,962 | ~45% more expensive | Bristol (£1,962) |
London: cheapest boroughs
For London boroughs, we’ve also compared rents with the London only median for a pet-friendly two-bedroom rental of £3,769 per calendar month.
| London borough | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median £1,351.50 per calendar month, median excludes London |
Compared with the London median £3,769 per calendar month, London-only median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton | £1,496 | ~11% more expensive | ~45% cheaper |
| Enfield | £1,689 | ~25% more expensive | ~39% cheaper |
| Bexley | £1,830 | ~35% more expensive | ~49% cheaper |
| Bromley | £1,831 | ~35% more expensive | ~48% cheaper |
| Kingston upon Thames | £1,850 | ~37% more expensive | ~36% cheaper |
London: most expensive boroughs
| London borough | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median £1,351.50 per calendar month, median excludes London |
Compared with the London median £3,769 per calendar month, London-only median |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of London | £6,833 | ~406% more expensive (or 5.1x) | ~101% more expensive (or 2x) |
| Kensington and Chelsea | £5,633 | ~317% more expensive (or 4.2x) | ~59% more expensive |
| Westminster | £5,460 | ~304% more expensive (or 4x) | ~41% more expensive |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | £4,008 | ~197% more expensive (or 3x) | ~14% more expensive |
| Camden | £3,953 | ~192% more expensive (or 2.9x) | ~14% more expensive |
Note: the London median comparison is worked out listing by listing, against the London-only median for homes of the same size. It won’t match a simple comparison of the two-bed equivalent figures with £3,769.
Scotland: how pet-friendly rents compare by county
| County | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median £1,351.50 per calendar month, median excludes London |
Towns or cities in county Two-bed equivalent £PCM, rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | £685 | ~49% cheaper | Aberdeen (£685) |
| Clackmannanshire | £800 | ~41% cheaper | – |
| East Lothian | £1,200 | ~11% cheaper | – |
| Lanarkshire | £1,300 | ~4% cheaper | Glasgow (£1,408) |
| Midlothian | £1,544 | ~14% more expensive | Edinburgh (£1,550) |
Wales: how pet-friendly rents compare by county
| County | Two-bed equivalent price per calendar month Rounded |
Compared with the UK median £1,351.50 per calendar month, median excludes London |
Towns or cities in county Two-bed equivalent £PCM, rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Glamorgan | £698 | ~48% cheaper | – |
| West Glamorgan | £785 | ~42% cheaper | Neath (£779) and Swansea (£800) |
| Pembrokeshire | £845 | ~37% cheaper | – |
| Monmouthshire | £944 | ~30% cheaper | Newport (£971) |
| South Glamorgan | £1,475 | ~9% more expensive | Cardiff (£1,475) |
Note: a dash (‘-’) in the towns or cities column means no town or city in that county has 5 or more pet-friendly listings
Can tenants ask to keep a pet? What the Renters’ Rights Act says
Since 1st May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act means landlords in England can’t refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet without a fair reason. They must reply in writing within 28 days. This applies whether or not the listing is marked ‘pets allowed’.
If you’re a tenant
The RSPCA and Dogs Trust offer pointers on what to include in your request, such as:
- the type of pet, its size, and how much space it needs
- its breed, exercise routine, and whether it’s microchipped and neutered
- any pet insurance you hold
- how you will limit noise and prevent damage
If you’re a landlord
Remember to:
- reply in writing within 28 days. If you need to ask the tenant for more information, you then have until the end of the original 28 days, or 7 days after receiving the extra information (whichever is later)
- consider each request individually, thinking about the specific pet and your specific property
- check your lease and, if you’re a leaseholder, whether the freeholder allows pets
- check your landlord insurance for pet damage cover
- clearly explain any reasonable refusal. Once you agree, you cannot withdraw consent later
What counts as a reasonable refusal?
Every request is different and must be considered individually. Space and outdoor access matter, particularly for bigger or more active pets, and a garden can help.
Around 6 in 10 (59%) pet-friendly rentals in our analysis also had a garden. These tend to be in leafier, more rural counties. All pet-friendly listings in Wiltshire had a garden, as did 97% in Oxfordshire. That compares with 16% in County Durham and 26% in Greater Manchester. What matters most is the specific pet and the property it will be living in.
But what matters most is the specific pet, and the property it will be living in.
Scenario 1: A tenant asks to keep a Labrador and a Bull Mastiff in a third-floor studio apartment with a balcony. The landlord refuses.
- Likely reasonable refusal. A studio is unlikely to give two large dogs enough room. The building owner may also prohibit pets. This is why, if you’re a leaseholder, you need to check with your freeholder’s policy on pets before accepting a request.
Scenario 2: A tenant asks to keep a rabbit in a one-bedroom house and offers to take out pet insurance. The landlord’s previous tenants kept a rabbit that caused damage to skirting boards, so they refuse.
- Likely unreasonable refusal. A general worry that damage may occur, whether or not it’s based on previous experience with a different pet, isn’t likely a fair reason to refuse. If the pet does cause damage, the tenant’s deposit may cover repairs, and insurance may help, though policy limits and exclusions may apply.
How can landlord insurance help with pet damage?
Our landlord insurance includes dedicated protection for damage caused by tenants’ domestic pets. Pet damage cover is available under both the buildings and landlord contents sections of the policy, subject to the policy terms, conditions and limits. The protection can provide:
- up to £5,000 per incident
- up to £10,000 in total during the policy year
- cover designed to help protect against common forms of damage caused by tenants’ domestic pets, such as scratching, chewing and accidental damage
- a fixed excess, providing clarity at the claim stage
Pet damage protection works alongside the wider buildings and contents cover. Safeguards apply so that the same damage is not claimed for under more than one section of the policy. Policy limits and exclusions may apply. Please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.
Disclaimer: The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Just Landlords accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
The opinions and views expressed in the above articles are those of the author only and are for guidance purposes only. The authors disclaim any liability for reliance upon those opinions and would encourage readers to rely upon more than one source before making a decision based on the information
