A new study by pet experts Harringtons has highlighted the best and worst cities in the UK for pet-friendly rental accommodation, providing valuable insight for dog owners seeking homes that allow pets.
As the demand for rental properties that accept pets grows, so too does the challenge of finding suitable homes. In the past year alone, Google searches for “rented properties that allow pets” have surged by 238%.
In response, Harringtons analysed property data across the UK’s 25 most populated cities. Their research compared the number of pet-friendly rentals to the total number of available properties to identify the cities where pet owners are most and least likely to find homes that welcome their furry companions.
Glasgow: The UK’s Most Pet-Friendly Rental City
Topping the list as the best city for pet-friendly rentals is Glasgow, where 14% of the 551 available rental properties allow pets. While this percentage may seem low, it is the highest among the cities surveyed, reflecting the challenges that pet owners face when searching for rental accommodation.
Northampton follows in second place, with 11.2% of properties being pet-friendly. Manchester rounds out the top three, offering 9.2% of its rentals to tenants with pets—181 out of 1,962 properties.
While these cities offer relatively better options, the overall availability of pet-friendly homes across the UK remains limited. Even in Glasgow, pet owners must navigate a rental market where less than one in five properties are suitable for pets.
Among the other cities surveyed, London ranks eighth with 6.37% of its 44,822 rental properties allowing pets. This translates to 2,858 pet-friendly homes in the capital. Sheffield follows closely behind with 6%, and Plymouth completes the top ten at 5.9%.
At the bottom of the list, Portsmouth ranks as the worst city for pet-friendly rentals, with just 2.2% of its available properties accommodating pets. Other cities with similarly low percentages include Nottingham (2.74%) and Newcastle (2.75%), highlighting the difficulty pet owners face in finding suitable housing in these areas.
Bristol, Exeter, and Leeds also rank poorly, with 3.6%, 3.2%, and 4% of rentals being pet-friendly, respectively.
New Legislation for Pet Owners in Rental Accommodation
For pet owners facing these challenges, there is some positive news on the horizon. The study comes in the wake of the UK government’s announcement of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which aims to make it easier for tenants to keep pets in rental properties. This legislation, set to be introduced by the Labour government, will significantly improve the rights of tenants who wish to have pets in rented accommodation.
Under the proposed law, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets. Instead, tenants will be able to request permission to keep a pet, which landlords must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. The new legislation is expected to increase the availability of pet-friendly rental properties across the country.
The bill is designed to overhaul the private rental sector, which currently houses 11 million tenants in England alone. The government’s aim is to transform tenant rights, ensuring that more pet owners can secure suitable accommodation without unnecessary barriers.
The new legislation could have a significant impact on cities like Portsmouth, where pet-friendly rental properties are scarce. As landlords are required to be more flexible under the new rules, the number of pet-friendly homes is expected to rise, offering hope to pet owners struggling to find suitable accommodation.
While the Renters’ Rights Bill is still in development, the changes are likely to bring relief to tenants in cities such as Nottingham, Newcastle, Bristol, and Leeds, where current rental options for pet owners are limited. The legislation could also encourage landlords to reconsider their policies and make their properties more accessible to tenants with pets.
Harringtons’ Guide to Renting with Pets
In addition to the study, Harringtons has released a guide to renting a home with pets. The guide offers practical advice on finding the right property and budgeting for life with a dog in a rental property.
With the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill and increasing awareness of the need for pet-friendly accommodation, the landscape for pet-owning tenants is likely to improve. However, the current scarcity of suitable homes in many cities underlines the importance of continued efforts to support tenants with pets.
