Glasgow has been named as the UK city with the best pet-friendly homes according to a new study by natural dog food brand Harringtons.
The pet experts analysed property rental data across the country’s 25 most populated cities, comparing the number of ‘pet-friendly’ rentals to the overall number of rentals available to find the cities with the highest proportion of suitable homes.
Glasgow tops the list – but the percentage isn’t all too impressive; just 14% of the 551 rental properties on the market in the area are pet-friendly.
Following the Scottish city is Northampton, where just over one in 10 (11.2%) of the properties are suitable for owners and their furry friends, and Manchester (9.2%).
The top 10 UK cities for pet-friendly rental accommodation:
- Glasgow – 551 properties, 77 pet-friendly (14.0%)
- Northampton – 188 properties, 21 pet-friendly (11.2%)
- Manchester – 1,962 properties, 181 pet-friendly (9.2%)
- Reading – 466 properties, 38 pet-friendly (8.2%)
- Brighton – 595 properties, 45 pet-friendly (7.6%)
- Edinburgh – 592 properties, 43 pet-friendly (7.3%)
- Cardiff – 470 properties, 30 pet-friendly (6.38%)
- London – 44,822 properties, 2,858 pet-friendly (6.37%)
- Sheffield – 702 properties, 42 pet-friendly (6.0%)
- Plymouth – 253 properties, 15 pet-friendly (5.9%)
There’s good news on the horizon for pet owners though. The research comes as Harringtons releases its guide to renting a home with pets – with advice on finding the right property size and how to budget with a dog – in the wake of the announcement that Labour will make it easier for tenants to have a pet in rental accommodation, under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The new government is setting out to make it easier for tenants to find accommodation, increasing the number of pet-suitable homes. In future, the hope for owners is that the number of pet-friendly homes will increase by a significant amount.
Under the regulation, landlords won’t be able to put blanket bans on pets in their properties. Tenants must write to their landlords requesting a pet, which cannot be ‘unreasonably’ refused. The proposed legislation from Labour states:
“The Renters’ Rights Bill will overhaul the private rented sector, with this Government determined to take action where the previous Government failed, transforming rights for the 11 million private tenants in England by giving tenants the right to request a pet, which landlords must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.”
The effects of the legislation are most likely to be felt in cities like Portsmouth, which Harringtons’ study reveals to be the worst in the country for pet-friendly renting with just 2.2% of homes allowing furry friends. Only narrowly better than the southern city were Nottingham and Newcastle with 2.74% and 2.75% respectively.
Also sitting at the bottom of the rankings are Exeter (3.2%), Bristol (3.6%) and Leeds (4%).
The worst UK cities for pet-friendly rentals:
- Portsmouth – 136 properties, 3 pet-friendly (2.2%)
- Nottingham – 2,153 properties, 59 pet-friendly (2.74%)
- Newcastle – 437 properties, 12 pet-friendly (2.75%)
- Exeter – 253 properties, 8 pet-friendly (3.2%)
- Bristol – 777 properties, 28 pet-friendly (3.6%)
- Leeds – 2,031 properties, 81 pet-friendly (4.0%)
- Liverpool – 1,141 properties, 53 pet-friendly (4.64%)
- Bradford – 285 properties, 13 pet-friendly (4.67%)
- Coventry – 1,048 properties, 49 pet-friendly (4.7%)
- Hull – 403 properties, 20 pet-friendly (5.0%)
When a new home has been found, there can be other stressors still to come for both dogs and owners. Pet nutritionist Sarah McNamara warns the stress of moving house can take a toll on your dog:
“Moving house can be stressful at the best of times for humans, but dogs don’t understand why they’re moving and can struggle to adjust to a new home, and stress often presents itself with a loss in appetite.
“Ensure you stick to your regular feeding schedule; this will ease their sense of routine through the move as mealtimes are the most important interaction you can have with your pet. This can also be supported by ensuring you go on dog walks at their usual times, also allowing them to adjust to their new community.
“If your pup still isn’t eating as normal, there are a few things you can try. The first is to temporarily switch or add some wet food, which is often more palatable for a fussy eater. Finally, make mealtimes fun with gamification. Using a food-dispensing toy or rewarding tricks with food can often encourage a dog to eat more effectively than being leaving a bowl of kibble in front of them.”
On finding pet-friendly rentals, Nick Woodward, Lettings Manager at Essential Living explains:
“Landlords often fear issues like scratches, odours, or fleas. While these concerns are understandable, most pet owners are responsible and maintain their rented homes well.
“There’s a high demand for pet-friendly homes, and landlords who accept pets can attract long-term tenants. Pet owners tend to stay longer in homes that allow their animals, knowing how difficult it can be to find alternatives. While finding pet-friendly rentals in the UK remains a challenge, proposed legislative changes offer hope that it may become easier for pet owners to secure homes.”
