Could the Renters’ Rights Bill Create 1 Million New Pet Owners?

There has been a claim circulating that the proposed Renters’ Rights Bill in the UK could result in one million (or more) renters becoming pet owners. On its face that sounds plausible—but what do the facts say?

What is the Renters’ Rights Bill and Key Pet Provisions

Some of the pet-related proposals in the Bill include:

• Tenants would have a right to request keeping a pet in a private rented property. Landlords would not be permitted to unreasonably refuse such a request. House of Commons Library+2iNews+2

• Landlords could impose conditions such as requiring pet damage insurance. House of Commons Library+2Battersea Dogs & Cats Home+2

• The Bill is intended to address the high demand from tenants for pet-friendly housing and the low current provision of such. Parliament UK+2Battersea Dogs & Cats Home+2

  
  

What the Data Looks Like Now

To estimate how many extra pet owners this change might cause, here are relevant figures:

• There are about 4.6 million households in England in the private rented sector, which is roughly 19% of all households. GOV.UK+1

• Among tenants, demand for pets is high: a survey by Battersea suggests about 76% of tenants either already own a pet or aspire to own one in future. Parliament UK+2Battersea Dogs & Cats Home+2

• But only a small fraction of rental properties are currently advertised as pet-friendly: figures like 7-8% are often quoted. Today's Conveyancer+2Intermediary Mortgage News+2

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How “One Million New Pet Owners” Might Be Calculated

Given these numbers, here’s a rough back-of-envelope way to see where “1 million new pet owners” could come from, and what assumptions would need to hold:

1. If there are ~4.6 million private rented households in England. GOV.UK

2. Suppose currently only ~8% of those rentals are pet-friendly. That leaves ~92% of those households who either don’t have pets or can’t have them (or are hiding them). Intermediary Mortgage News+2Today's Conveyancer+2

3. If the Bill causes many of the pet-restrictions to be lifted or lowered, and even a modest proportion of those restricted households decide to get or adopt a pet, then a large number could become new pet owners.

   For example, if just 25% of the “restricted” ~4.2 million households took up the opportunity, that’s ~1.05 million households.

These are approximate numbers, and depend heavily on how “restricted” is defined, what “taking up the pet option” means (some may want exotic pets, others cats/dogs), and how landlords respond in practice.

Is It Realistic? Factors That Could Limit Growth

While the idea of one million new pet owners is possible, there are a number of hurdles and caveats:

• Landlords may still refuse. While the Bill would stop unreasonable refusals, landlords could still refuse for valid reasons (size of property, type of animal, impact on neighbours etc.). GOV.UK+2nawt.org.uk+2

• Existing restrictions in leases, freeholds etc. Even if the Bill passes, there may be leasehold or freehold obligations (in flats, for instance) that prevent pets. These might count as “reasonable” refusals.

• Costs. If pet insurance is required, or increased cleaning, potential damage etc., some tenants may not want the financial or practical responsibilities.

• Animal welfare concerns and timing. Some animals might be abandoned or rehomed if people get pets without fully considering the commitment. Also, demand could surge before supply of pet-friendly housing increases meaningfully.

• Legislation doesn’t magically change advertisement listing practices. Just because it becomes easier or safer to request a pet, doesn’t guarantee landlords will update their listings or marketing practices immediately. Many renters may still struggle to find advertised options.

  
  

Conclusion

So, could the Renters’ Rights Bill lead to one million new pet owners among renters in England, or across the UK? Yes — it’s within the realm of possibility.

But whether that happens depends on a number of things:

• How “pet-friendly” the final law is (how hard or easy it is for tenants to make requests)

• How landlords react in practice

• Whether supporting infrastructure (insurance, vet services, animal welfare) can absorb the growth well

• Whether tenants feel the costs (financial, logistical) are manageable

If things go well, this change could bring major benefits: reduced pet abandonment, better wellbeing for renters, more stable tenancies. But it will need careful implementation and enforcement.