April is National Pet Month, designed to celebrate and raise awareness of responsible pet ownership.

When the Office for National Statistics added pet grooming to its inflation basket this year, it offered a quietly revealing insight. Pet care is no longer a niche expense, but a mainstream lifestyle cost, reflecting the growing popularity of pet ownership. This shift has been reinforced by the rise in flexible working since the pandemic, which has made owning a pet more feasible for many households.

For a lot of us they are part of the family, so it stands to reason people want homes that accommodate them.

Pet-friendly new builds

Pet-friendly amenities are now appearing in new-build developments as demand grows. For example Hurlingham Waterfront in Fulham includes a pet grooming station located just off the lobby area, where residents can wash their four-legged friend after a long walk in one of the many parks across SW6 or a stroll around the development's private garden. Cerulean Quarter in Canning Town also has a park which welcomes dogs built into the scheme.

Depending on the development, you may have to pay a small fee to cover the administrative costs involved in reviewing the request for a pet, ensuring compliance with the lease regulations.

Not only do schemes like these enable you to move with your faithful companion, there’s another key advantage: residents automatically have something in common with their neighbours – though of course, you don’t actually have to have a pet to live there.

Tenants with pets

Many private landlords are increasingly open to welcoming tenants with pets. However, some reluctance remains, often due to concerns about potential damage to furnishings, noise or hygiene, or because certain properties, particularly those without outside space may simply be unsuitable. As a result, it has historically been difficult to find pet‑friendly apartments, particularly in London.

However, the new Renters’ Rights Act (RRA), coming into effect on 1 May 2026, will change this landscape. Any agreed existing ‘no pets’ clauses will become invalid. Landlords can still advertise a property as ‘no pets’, but once a tenant has moved in, they can only refuse a request to have a pet if there is a rational reason.

There are circumstances where it will be reasonable for a landlord to refuse a request, for example where a superior landlord lease prohibits pets or where the property itself is not suitable.

Landlords will soon operate on a more case-by-case basis and so supplying additional information may be useful to reassure them. Details such as age, breed, temperament, vaccination history, and veterinary contact information, or even a reference from a previous landlord, can demonstrate that your pet has been well cared for and has not caused issues in the past.

Get a closer look at life in Riverside Quarter through McRay and his dog Coco, and why it’s an ideal choice for those seeking a pet-friendly place to live.