How can landlords rent to pet owners safely without sacrificing protection?

Since May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act has fundamentally shifted the rental market for landlords. Tenants now have a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords can no longer impose blanket “no pets” policies. Instead of seeing this as a threat, forward-thinking landlords are recognising it as an opportunity.

Pet-owning tenants often make excellent long-term renters, but success depends on a smart two-part strategy: investing in durable property features upfront, and securing the right protection through specialist insurance. Here’s how to make pet-friendly lets work for your portfolio.

Why pet-owning tenants are worth considering

For years, the private rental sector avoided pet owners. Only around 7% of rental properties were advertised as pet-friendly, despite 40% of UK households owning a pet. The Renters’ Rights Act has changed the game. Now, landlords who welcome responsible pet owners find themselves with a much larger applicant pool.

Pet-owning tenants stay longer. Moving with animals is complicated and options limited, so these tenants are motivated to maintain stable housing. This means lower void periods, fewer re-lettings, reduced turnover costs, and the administrative relief that comes with longer tenancies.

Recent research, commissioned by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, into the financial impact of pet ownership in rental properties found that that half of pet-owning renters stay in the same property for more than three years, compared to just under a third of non-pet-owning renters, with 76% of landlords never encountering pet-related damage.

If you’re excluding pet owners, you are therefore potentially missing out on a large part of the rental market that actually stays longer and causes less damage than the rental sector assumes. The key is being strategic. You don’t have to accept every pet request, and can still refuse on reasonable grounds. However, by creating a clear pet policy and preparing your property properly, you can access a genuinely lucrative tenant demographic.

Part 1: The prevention strategy

The most effective way to manage pet damage risk isn’t through restrictions, but rather through making smart material choices. Flooring and fixtures bear the brunt of pet wear and tear, and that’s where your prevention strategy must focus. Pet-owning tenants will access certain areas of your property multiple times daily: hallways, kitchens, utility rooms, and garages see constant foot and paw traffic. The materials you choose in these high-use zones determine how quickly (or slowly) damage accumulates.

Invest in durability

When pet-owning tenants move in, the real challenges start. Scratched doors, scuffed walls, damaged flooring, and soiled carpets are common outcomes. Before you let to a pet owner, our article on what to know before a rental renovation is an informative read, covering how to invest in quality fixtures and materials that simply last longer under heavy use. Cheap flooring and fittings won’t stand up to daily pet wear. They will need replacing far sooner, and eat into your returns.

In practice, carpet is the worst choice for pet-friendly properties, given it stains easily, traps odours, and holds damage. A single pet accident, especially if it soaks through to the padding and subfloor, can render carpet beyond repair. Instead, look at durable, pet-resistant flooring options. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP), tile, engineered wood, and laminate all offer superior scratch resistance and water resistance. They’re easy to clean, quick to repair if damaged, and can withstand years of claws and accidents without significant degradation.

Prioritise high-traffic zones

Access points for pet owners are a priority: utility room doors, pet flaps, side doors, and garage doors all see constant wear from claws, scratches, and impact marks. Garages are often multi-purpose areas in rental properties, serving as storage, laundry access and the in/out route for tenants with pets. The combination of daily, high-traffic activity and animal wear means careful material choice is a genuine long-term consideration, rather than an aesthetic one.

Traditional timber doors require constant repainting and maintenance to resist weather damage, making them impractical for busy pet households, which is why durable door materials such as GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester) have become the sensible alternative. Leading manufacturers like CDC Garage Doors have invested heavily in GRP production, creating virtually maintenance-free doors that outlast timber by decades without repainting or refinishing. For landlords letting to pet-owning tenants, that durability compounds over several tenancies, keeping the property presentable without the recurring cost of repairs.

Part 2: The protection strategy

Prevention goes a long way, but it isn’t foolproof. Even with durable fixtures, accidents happen and this is where most landlords get caught out, as standard landlord buildings insurance excludes pet damage. Your policy likely won’t cover damage to carpets or fixtures caused by a tenant’s pet, even though pet damage is one of the most common claims landlords face.

Why the deposit isn’t enough

The Renters’ Rights Act originally proposed allowing landlords to require tenants to take out pet damage insurance themselves. That clause was removed, leaving the deposit as the only safety net. But deposits are capped and often inadequate. If pet damage exceeds the deposit amount, you’re left with no recovery mechanism.

Filling the insurance gap

This is where dedicated pet damage insurance comes in, but insurance is only as strong as the evidence backing a claim. That’s why a proper schedule of dilapidation at move-in and move-out matters so much. Without a documented inventory of the property’s condition, disputes over what damage occurred during the tenancy become far harder to resolve.

Products like Not for Lions from Addept Insurance, available through Protect My Let, fill this gap, providing cover for damage caused by a tenant’s pet to landlord contents and carpets. Coverage runs up to £1,000 for minor damage (chewing, scratching, fouling) and up to £5,000 for other pet-related damage. It’s an affordable add-on that transforms your risk profile when letting to pet owners.

Making it work

The rental market is evolving. Pet ownership is rising, tenant expectations are shifting, and landlords who adapt will be best placed to benefit. A two-part strategy of smart material choices and specialist insurance protection lets you access a larger, more stable tenant pool while keeping your property secure. Prevention through durable materials reduces the likelihood of damage, and protection via dedicated insurance covers the gaps. Together, they make pet-friendly letting genuinely profitable.

Recent research, commissioned by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, into the financial impact of pet ownership in rental properties found that that half of pet-owning renters stay in the same property for more than three years, compared to just under a third of non-pet-owning renters, with 76% of landlords never encountering pet-related damage.

If you’re excluding pet owners, you are therefore potentially missing out on a large part of the rental market that actually stays longer and causes less damage than the rental sector assumes. The key is being strategic. You don’t have to accept every pet request, and can still refuse on reasonable grounds. However, by creating a clear pet policy and preparing your property properly, you can access a genuinely lucrative tenant demographic.