Approximately four million renters in England have welcomed, or intend to welcome, a pet during 2026. This follows changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act, according to research from Simply Business.
The research indicates that 44% of tenants have already acquired or plan to acquire a pet this year, with 12% acting within weeks of the reforms taking effect on 1 May. Under the new legislation, landlords must consider individual requests from tenants to keep a pet, and permission cannot be unreasonably refused.
Younger tenants are reportedly driving this trend, with 18% of renters aged 25 to 34 acquiring a pet shortly after the reforms and a further 37% intending to do so this year. In contrast, 64% of renters over 55 have no plans to get a pet.
Most pet-owning tenants are taking steps to protect their rented homes, with 93% adopting at least one precaution. Over half regularly deep-clean their property, 39% use gates to restrict animal access to certain rooms, and 38% have fitted machine-washable sofa covers or other furniture protection. Dogs are the most popular choice among new pet owners, selected by 58%, while 43% chose a cat.
Simply Business has launched Pet Property Damage insurance for landlords, offering cover up to £5,000 with no excess for accidental damage to fixtures and fittings caused by pets. This comes as pet deposits are no longer an option under recent reforms.