Landlords keep rejecting me because I have a dog despite Renters' Right Act law change
When the new Renters Rights Act was introduced earlier this year, it seemed as if it would be a game-changer for pet owners across the country.
Apart from the obvious benefits of landlords needing a longer notice period, and no longer being able to remove you from their property without good reason, one of the most eye-catching changes was around pets.
Pet owners across the UK have struggled for a long time when it comes to finding a place to live that accepts their furry friend, and it was hoped that things would become far easier when blanket bans on pets were removed, while prospective tenants were also reassured that landlords could not unreasonably refuse a request to keep a pet in their home.
However, while many might have thought that this meant all homes would automatically accept pets, the reality just a few months on is very different.
My experience with finding a new home with a pet
In my own experience, finding a new home with a pet is still a stressful and frustrating experience, with many real estate companies ruling out the vast majority of properties when you select the 'pet friendly' option on their sites.
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Despite having a small and very sweet dachshund, who takes up little space and spends most of her time sleeping in her bed, I've had estate agents put the phone down the moment I mention her, while automated voicemails when ringing up homes have also ruled me out at the mere press of a button.
Finding a new flat or house to live in is already an incredibly competitive business, with the best-looking properties likely to have a huge number of applications in a matter of days after hitting the market, especially in big cities in the UK.
Regardless of the new rules that have been put into place, my experience tells me a landlord or estate agent is likely to just select another applicant who doesn't have a pet, rather than the person who does, which is well within their rights.
Even the most pet-loving landlords might consider that their home might be one percent safer with an applicant who comes alone, rather than someone who comes with a pet, so long as the human tenant also promises not to wee on the carpet.
Although in big cities there are a lot of new-build apartment blocks which come as pet friendly, and also have some amenities, they are often only small one-bed apartments that obviously have no garden, so things can feel a little cramped for both the tenant and the dog or cat.
Another application simply saw me get a rejection message which read: "Your application does not meet the requirements set by this landlord: This landlord has sai they won't accept pets living at their property."
Naturally, it's not just me that is going through these struggles, as other tenants across the UK are also finding it near impossible to find a suitable home for their pets.
Other people's experiences with the new Renters' Rights Act
A quick look on social media emphasises that while these new Renters' Rights are in place, not every landlord is keen to stick to them.
We've perhaps seen more landlords diagnosed with cat and dog allergies in the last few months than in the rest of history combined, as some are unsurprisingly looking to bend the rules when it comes to their property.
One user on Reddit wrote: "We have paid deposits and are about to sign for this property when we received this email, we have two cats and two snakes. The snakes I assume will be fine since they’re in their boxes but I am going to ask them. This property is perfect for us and we’ve already ended our current tenancy in time for moving in to the new place 1 September. Is there anything I can do about this or is it a lost cause?"
They then shared an email from the landlord which confirmed that they wouldn't be going forward with the tenancy after deciding that no pets would be permitted, despite the deposit already being paid.
The user then provided an update to confirm that their application was rejected and cancelled since all the paperwork hadn't gone through.
Another user said: "Renting with pets has become almost impossible. I’m really starting to feel hopeless in renting. I’m struggling to get on the housing ladder and I must’ve asked 200+ different properties now if they allow pets, they have either gone instantly or they just don’t allow them."
How pet owners should approach rental applications
The act states that from 1 May 2026, private tenants will have the right to request to keep a pet. However, where a lot of people are going wrong is that 'tenants must make the request in writing and include a description of the pet.
If this isn't enough to convince the landlord that they should accept you and whatever pet you are bringing then there are other things you can do to win them over, and we really shouldn't overestimate the power of using cute dog pictures to make them feel bad.
Russell Hunt, a former estate agent, founded Pets Lets in 2019 as a way of making it easier for people with pets to find somewhere to live, and he offered some expert advice to LADbible on how to improve your chances of finding a home.
He said: "I wouldn't go with the portal filters for pets. They are not good at all. The best thing to do is call, no matter if it says they allow pets or not.
"Another good tip is if you see a house that has been on the market for a long time, whether it's on your street or online, just approach the agents and ask if the owners would be open to renting instead. We've done that for clients and it's a good way of bypassing the competition because it's on the sales market."
Another tip Russell had is to put together a sort of CV for your dog to show to landlords as both a visual aid and a way of convincing them that they won't be a problem in their property.
He added: "It's really tough. We definitely promote pet CV's. We run a separate site called 'say yes to pets'. You can create your own pet CV which is a really useful tool. It shows a visual aid for what your pets look like. If you've got training qualifications, say so. If you work from home, say so. If the pets are senior, what damage are they really going to do?
"It's all about finding the angle. Previous landlord references are also really good, if they can show that they've never had any previous problems with pets in their home. Show off your personalities in your applications because you're up against so many people and if you look like a good person and you're on it, the landlord is more likely to say yes."
Topics: Cost of Living, Dogs, LADwallet, UK News
James Moorhouse