Another survey highlights the relatively low proportion of landlords who appear to allow tenants to keep pets.
The analysis, from Confused.com Mortgages, contrasts the popularity of the search term ‘pets’ by prospective tenants using Rightmove – which was renters most-searched term on the portal in 2023 – with only 44.8 per cent of private rental listings indicating renters with pets would actually be welcome.
As part of their report, they looked at the types of tenants landlords are unwilling to let their property to:
|
Tenant type |
Percentage |
|
People with a history of rent arrears |
84.50% |
|
Students |
47.70% |
|
People with pets |
44.80% |
|
People requiring adaptations to the property |
44.30% |
|
People receiving Housing Benefit/Universal Credit |
43.90% |
|
Non-UK passport holders |
20.40% |
|
People with dependant children |
15.50% |
|
Willing to let to all types |
7.80% |
|
Other |
3,30% |
In a further part of the survey, 52.2 per cent of landlords questioned say they are concerned about the impact forthcoming legislative changes will have on the industry.
As part of the proposed changes, landlords will also be obliged to consider requests to allow pets in lets and cannot unreasonably refuse.
In addition, over 43 per cent of landlords are not willing to let people receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit and over 15 per cent of landlords wouldn’t consider those with children. However, the proposed legislation includes an end to blanket bans on benefit claimants or families with children.
Some 9.6 per cent of landlords say they plan to sell all their properties and leave the business within the next two years.
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