The number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by 39% since the start of 2026.

Research suggests landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters Rights Act taking effect from May 1.

The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) introduces an implied term into tenancy agreements, meaning that tenants will have the right to request a pet and landlords will not be able to refuse unreasonably. 

Pet-friendly rentals have always been few and far between, and Inventory Base’s new analysis of current rental listings shows that the number is still in decline.

Current listings data shows that out of a total of 98,964 available rental properties in England, just 5.9% are advertised as being pet-friendly. This marks a proportional decline of -2.3% since the start of 2026 when pet-friendly listings accounted for 8.2% of the market.

The number of pet-friendly rentals on the market has seen the most dramatic fall in the East of England where today’s total of 317 marks a drop of -50.9% since the start of the year.

In the East Midlands, pet-friendly rentals are down -49.8%, followed by the South East (-46.6%), Yorkshire & Humber (-45%), South West (-43.1%), North West (-39.1%), West Midlands (-37.9%), London (-31.9%), and the North East (-31.2%).