Renting with a pet in London: what landlords actually ask

Renting with a dog or cat in London used to mean a long search and a lot of rejections. It is getting easier. More of our landlords now consider pets than at any time in the last decade, and the law has moved to make it harder to refuse a reasonable request. But the conversation still goes better when you come prepared.

What landlords worry about

Almost every landlord asks the same three things. Will the pet damage the floors, doors or garden? Will it disturb the neighbours? And will the home smell of animals when the tenancy ends? Answer those before they are asked and you are most of the way there.

Build a pet profile

We suggest every tenant with a pet puts together a single page to send with their application:

• The animal's age, breed and size, with a photograph
• Vaccination and flea treatment records
• Whether it is neutered and microchipped
• How long it is left alone during the day, and who looks after it when you are away
• A reference from a previous landlord who let you keep the pet

It takes twenty minutes and makes a real difference. Landlords decide on people, and a tidy, honest profile tells them a lot.

Insurance and the deposit

The deposit is capped at five weeks' rent, so a landlord cannot ask for a larger one because of a pet. Many will ask you to hold pet damage insurance instead, or to pay for a professional clean at the end of the tenancy. Both are reasonable, and offering one up front helps.

Choosing the right home

Some homes suit pets better than others. Ground-floor flats with a garden, or houses near a park, are the obvious ones. Leasehold flats can be more complicated, because the building's lease may forbid pets whatever the landlord thinks, so always ask the agent to check before you fall in love with one.

We mark every home where the landlord will consider pets, so you can filter for them on our search.