More than nine in ten landlords have yet to receive a formal request to keep a pet under the Renters’ Rights Act, despite more than half of tenants saying pet policies influence their choice of rental property.

Under the act, which came into force for the private rented sector in England on 1 May 2026, tenants have a statutory right to formally request permission to keep a pet, and landlords must not unreasonably refuse.

Research from LRG found 93% of landlords had received no pet request since the new right came into force. Of those surveyed, 6% had approved a request, 0.8% had one under consideration and fewer than 0.3% had refused one.

The findings, based on responses from 717 landlords and 860 tenants across England and Wales, suggest the new framework has yet to become a regular feature of lettings activity.

However, LRG said the low number of formal requests could partly reflect changes in the way tenants search for properties rather than a lack of demand.

Rightmove data cited in the report showed searches specifically filtering for pet-friendly properties fell 54% year-on-year in May and 52% in June, although pets remained the most searched-for rental keyword in both months.

LRG suggested tenants may be relying less on pet-friendly search filters now that they can formally request permission to keep a pet.

Its survey found 34% of tenants considered a pet-friendly property essential and would only rent somewhere that permitted one. A further 24% regarded it as very or somewhat important, while 42% said it was not a factor in their decision.

Nearly three in ten tenants already owned a pet, while another 19% were either considering getting one or actively planning to do so within the next 12 months.

The research also found 32% of tenants said they had previously been affected by no-pets policies. Some 15% had decided against getting a pet they wanted, 12% said they had lost out on a property because of a pet and 5% had given up or rehomed an animal.

For agents advising landlords on requests, the findings also indicate what measures could provide greater reassurance. Some 31% of landlords said a professional cleaning obligation at the end of a tenancy would make them more confident about approving a pet, while 28% cited tenant-funded pet damage insurance. However, another 28% said nothing would change their view.

Separate research commissioned by Battersea and cited by LRG found 76% of landlords reported no pet-related damage at the end of a tenancy. Where such damage occurred, the average cost was £300, compared with £775 for non-pet-related damage caused by tenants without pets.

The same research found 50% of pet-owning renters had stayed in their previous property for more than three years, compared with 31% of those without pets. Separate research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found 26% of tenants said they would stay longer if pets were permitted.

Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer at Leaders, part of LRG, said: “The formal requests are coming in slowly, and that is to be expected at this early stage. But the demand is real, and the legal framework is now in place.

“What the data shows is that most landlords are not opposed to pets in principle – they want practical reassurance that their property will be looked after. That is exactly where agents can add value: helping landlords put the right conditions in place, supporting tenants through the request process, and making sure both sides understand what the new rules actually mean.

“Done well, this is an opportunity to build longer, more stable tenancies – and that is good for everyone.”