I thought things were finally getting better for pet owners, but it still feels impossible to rent with a dog. Found a great place, and the landlord didn’t mention a pet ban in the listing. But once I said I had a small spaniel, suddenly they “weren’t sure” if the property was suitable anymore. Feels like they’re just making excuses to avoid renting to pet owners. Are they even allowed to do this with the new laws in place?

Yeah, it’s tricky. Legally, they can’t just say “no pets” without a valid reason anymore, but many still try to get around it. If they didn’t put a no-pet clause in the contract, you might have grounds to push back. Some landlords are just reluctant out of habit, but others genuinely don’t understand the new rules. It might help to bring up tenant rights—sometimes, just showing you know the law makes a difference. If you need more info, read here.

I’m all for pet-friendly rentals, but I also think landlords should still have a say in certain cases. If a property is small or shared, it makes sense to have restrictions. That said, I’ve had landlords refuse pets for no good reason—meanwhile, they rent to tenants who don’t pay on time or trash the place. The law changes are fair, but I think both sides need to be more reasonable. A bit of flexibility and trust would make renting with pets a lot easier for everyone.

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