The UK is often called a nation of animal-lovers, and with good reason. Around 57% of UK households owned pets in 2022 – that’s roughly 38 million treasured cats, dogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, corn snakes and more.

Unfortunately, that pet-loving attitude doesn’t always extend to landlords. Research by Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and Mars Petcare last year found that just 8% of private UK landlords list their properties as pet-friendly.

That all means finding a coveted “pets accepted” rental property can be a nightmare. Often you have to make a compromise on something big, especially when moving to London – “Yes, it’s way out of the city, has no home working space and costs way too much for the size, but it’s the only place that would let us bring Lola!”

But the good news is that this doesn’t always have to be the reality, as Build-to-Rent apartments like Bloom Nine Elms can not only make it easy to find pet-friendly apartments for rent in London, but make you wonder why it was ever so hard in the first place.

Why is private renting with pets so hard?

If you’ve ever tried renting with a pet in London, you probably already know the answer to this. Essentially, it’s because private landlords currently have the power to refuse pet owners in their properties on any grounds. For example:

• The size of the pet and available space
• Noise concerns
• Damage to the property
• Impact on neighbours

And the list goes on.

You might have heard of the Renters (Reform) Bill which was introduced to Parliament in 2023. Among many other protections for renters, the bill aims to make things easier for tenants with pets by stopping landlords from putting a blanket ban on pets in their properties.

That all sounds pretty great for moving in with your beloved moggy or the Jack Russell you’ve always dreamed of. But unfortunately it doesn’t mean landlords can no longer stop you from renting with a pet – it just means they have to consider your request and can’t “unreasonably” say no.

In other words, they can still refuse your request for the same kinds of reasons as above, but now there’s a bit more of a process to go through before they say no. And it’s worth pointing out that the Renters (Reform) Bill is still just a bill, meaning it’s not yet passed into law, so any help it might give you and your pets is still hypothetical.

Why Build-to-Rent is different

“Where can I live with my dog in London” can be a scary question to ask when you know how hard renting with pets can be. But the best pet-friendly rentals in London don’t only exist in your dreams.

Enter Build-to-Rent apartments like Bloom Nine Elms. The core idea behind Build-to-Rent is, as the name suggests, they’re built specifically with renters like you in mind. That means an awful lot of things – from more secure long-term leases to luxury amenity spaces and professional property management – but it also means you’re more likely to find pet-friendly properties ready to welcome you and your beloved animal friends.

For example, all of our studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments at Bloom Nine Elms are pet-friendly as standard. There’s no need to put in a written request to bring your Fido or Felix with you, no requirement to prove your pet won’t be a problem, and no agonising wait to hear if your furry friend can share your dream home too.

And it’s not just that your pets are welcome at Nine Elms. We also know how important your pets are to your own wellbeing, and how important it is to make sure they’re looked after as well. That’s why our property also includes a pet spa to keep your animals as groomed and pampered as they deserve to be.

What to consider for pet-friendly London living

If you're planning to own a pet in South London, there are several things to consider – from what you need to look after them to where you can find the best green spaces for exercise.

1. Microchipping and vaccinating

In England, it’s currently a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped and registered on a database, and the same will be true of cats from June 2024. So if you’re planning to rent with a new pet in London, this is one vet appointment you’ll have to make soon.

There aren’t yet any requirements with pet vaccinations, but if you’re living in a city as big as London – home to more than 300,000 pet dogs – it’s a good idea to make sure your pets are properly protected.

2. Travelling with your pets

If you think of London, you probably think of two things: grand, historic landmarks, and public transport. And the good news with getting around London is that your pets can travel with you for free on all buses, trains and the Tube for free, provided they’re either safely in a carrier or on a lead if they’re a dog.

3. Exercise for dogs

If you’re currently a dog owner or planning to be one, you’ll need to know about where you can properly exercise your pooch. And while you might think living in the city centre will mean mostly pavement dog walks, the good news is that London is one of the greenest cities in the world.