Rightmove, the UK's largest property platform, reports a dramatic decline in searches for pet-friendly rental properties following the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act on 1 May 2026. The number of searches by potential tenants looking for rental properties that explicitly allow pets dropped by 54% in May compared with the same month in 2025, followed by a 52% year-on-year decline in June 2026. The data suggests that tenants are no longer filtering for 'pet-friendly' listings at the early stages of their search, confident that they can now request a pet in a wider range of homes.
The Renters' Rights Act removes blanket bans on pets by landlords and states that tenants have the right to request a pet and landlords must not unreasonably refuse permission. The legislation came into effect from 1 May 2026, and the sharper drop in searches in May and June contrasts with earlier declines in 2026. Between January and April 2026, searches for pet-friendly properties fell between 28% and 36% year-on-year, indicating that the Act has accelerated an existing trend.
How the Renters' Rights Act changes tenant behaviour
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, explains the shift: "This big trend shift is less about a drop in demand for pets, and more about what appears to be a change in renter behaviour due to the Renters' Rights Act. When tenants feel more confident that they can request a pet in a wider range of homes, they're less reliant on filtering specifically for 'pet-friendly' listings at the early stages of searching for a home."
Despite the decline in searches, pets remain the most searched-for term overall on the platform, though its lead at the top is shrinking. The most searched-for key terms by tenants in June 2026 were identical to those in June 2025: pets, garden, garage, furnished, and bills included, in that order.
Year-on-year search trends for pet-friendly properties in 2026
- January: –28%
- February: –35%
- March: –36%
- April: –34%
- May: –54%
- June: –52%
Marc von Grundherr, Director of Benham and Reeves, commented: "This is certainly something we've noticed, and it reflects a clear shift in tenant behaviour since the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act. Previously, applicants with pets would actively seek out pet-friendly properties from the outset. Today, we're seeing far fewer tenants raise the issue during their property search, suggesting they are increasingly confident that pet ownership is a discussion to be had with the landlord later in the process, rather than a factor that determines where they apply."
Late disclosure of pets raises landlord concerns
Von Grundherr notes that the timing of pet disclosure has shifted dramatically. "In fact, we've seen recent cases where tenants only disclosed a pet after signing their tenancy agreement, while others have only come to light during routine property inspections. This demonstrates just how significantly attitudes have changed following the legislation."
He adds that the balance of power has shifted: "The reality is that tenants now understand the balance of power has shifted. As a result, landlords can no longer rely on a blanket 'no pets' policy to deter applications and should instead expect conversations around pet ownership to arise much later in the letting process."
For landlords, the key takeaway is clear: "Pet ownership is becoming an increasingly common consideration regardless of whether it is disclosed at application stage, making it more important than ever to have a clear and practical policy in place from the outset," von Grundherr says.
Implications for the rental market and tenant rights
The Renters' Rights Act represents one of the most significant shifts in tenant rights in recent years, and the Rightmove data offers early evidence of how such legislation can reshape rental market behaviour. The decline in searches for pet-friendly properties does not necessarily indicate a fall in pet ownership among renters, but rather a change in how tenants approach their property search. Rather than limiting their options to a small subset of advertised pet-friendly homes, tenants now appear to be casting a wider net, expecting to negotiate pet permissions with landlords after initial viewings or even after signing agreements.
This shift has implications for landlords and property managers. With blanket bans no longer permissible, landlords must develop transparent pet policies that balance tenant rights with property protection. This may include requiring pet damage insurance, setting deposit conditions, or specifying restrictions on certain types or sizes of animals. The Act does not oblige landlords to accept every pet request, but it does require that refusals be reasonable and justified on a case-by-case basis.
The change also affects how property portals and letting agents structure their listings and search filters. If fewer tenants are actively filtering by 'pet-friendly', landlords may need to reconsider how they advertise properties and whether highlighting pet policies upfront remains a competitive advantage or a deterrent in the current market.
Babcock notes that Rightmove will continue to track behaviour changes closely: "The Renters' Rights Act only came into effect at the beginning of May, so we'll be tracking any further behaviour changes as a result very closely." The data for the coming months will be critical in understanding whether the trend stabilises or whether tenant search behaviour continues to evolve as landlords and tenants adapt to the new legislative framework.
The decline in pet-friendly searches is likely a preview of how other tenant rights enshrined in the Renters' Rights Act may reshape market dynamics over time. As tenants gain confidence in their legal protections, search behaviour, negotiation tactics, and landlord–tenant relationships may all shift in ways that are only beginning to emerge in the data.
