Key Takeaways:
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- The Renters’ Rights Act (May 2026) means landlords must consider written pet requests; blanket refusals are no longer permitted.
- Only 5.9% of UK rental listings are currently pet-friendly. For landlords, allowing pets widens tenant pool significantly
- Much of the damage associated with pets stems from unsuitable materials rather than the pets themselves.
- LVT is the top flooring recommendation across all room types; avoid carpet entirely in rooms with pet access.
- Upholstered sofas need a minimum 30,000-40,000 Martindale rub rating; bouclé and standard velvet should be avoided entirely.
- Roller blinds or sill-height curtains outperform floor-length drapes in pet-occupied properties.
- The cost of correct specification is often lower than replacing damaged materials and resolving a deposit dispute.
Since May 2026, landlords in England must consider written pet requests under the Renters’ Rights Act. Blanket refusals are no longer permitted. For landlords with furnished properties, the question is no longer whether to allow pets. It is how to specify correctly so that the property survives them.
Why Pets Are Now Part of London Renting
62% of UK households own a pet, yet only 5.9% of rental listings are currently advertised as pet-friendly. OpenRent recorded a 24% rise in pet-friendly listings in 2025, a trend the Renters’ Rights Act will accelerate. The tenant pool for pet-friendly furnished rentals is large and largely unserved.
A Landlord’s Real Concern: Will Allowing Pets Ruin the Property?
Pets aren’t the real risk; wrong materials are. In our experience, flooring deposit disputes trace more to unsuitable carpet than to animal behaviour. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) that costs around £25 per sq m can survive multiple tenancies with or without pets, whereas standard carpet may not last a single tenancy in high-wear areas. Specification is where the damage risk is determined.
Flooring: The Single Most Important Decision
LVT is the top recommendation across all room types in a pet-friendly rental. It is scratch-resistant, fully waterproof, and resists odour absorption. Avoid carpet in any room with pet access, as urine soaks through to the subfloor and cannot be remediated without full replacement. Seal floor gaps and pipework access points before tenancy begins.
How each flooring type performs under pet tenancies
| Material | Scratch Resistance | Water Resistance | Odour Resistance | Cost/m² (Approx) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVT / LVP (Luxury Vinyl) | High | High | Good | £20–40+ | Best all-round |
| Porcelain / Ceramic Tile | High | High | High | £25–60 | Best for kitchens & bathrooms |
| Laminate (AC4+ Rated) | Good | Fair | Fair | £15–30 | Good, but avoid wet areas |
| Engineered Wood | Fair | Fair | Low | £40–80 | Premium lets, but higher risk |
| Polypropylene Carpet | Fair | Low | Fair | £12–22 | Bedrooms only, needs tight pile |
| Solid Wood | Low | Very Low | Low | £60–100+ | Avoid: scratches and warps |
| Standard Carpet | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | £8–18 | Avoid entirely with pets |
Upholstery and Sofas: Fabrics That Survive Claws, Accidents, and Fur
Avoid standard fabric sofas in pet-occupied rentals. Where there is upholstered furniture, specify by Martindale rub rating: 30,000-40,000 is the best for a rental with pets. InStyle Direct’s in-house upholstery factory sources to these specifications as standard.
Performance velvet with a pile depth under 3mm, tight-weave chenille, and faux leather are the three materials that hold up consistently. Bouclé, looped fabrics, and deep-pile velvet should be avoided, as loops and long pile catch claws and cannot be repaired.
How each upholstery fabric performs under pet tenancies
| Fabric / Material | Martindale Rating | Scratch Resistance | Hair and Fur | Wipe-Clean | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Velvet (short-pile, under 3mm) | 40,000–50,000+ | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Best balance of look and durability |
| Tight-Weave Chenille | 40,000+ | High | Moderate | Moderate | Top choice for cat claw resistance |
| Faux Leather / PU Leather | 100,000+ | Good | High | High | Easiest to clean; some show scuffs over time |
| Microfibre (tight weave) | 30,000–50,000 | Moderate | High | Good | Effective for dog hair removal |
| Linen / Cotton | 10,000–20,000 | Low | Low | Low | Avoid for furnished rentals |
| Standard Velvet (deep pile) | 15,000–25,000 | Very Low | Low | Low | Cat claws snag; avoid |
| Bouclé / Looped Fabric | 15,000–20,000 | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Loops catch claws; avoid |
Curtains and Blinds: Window Dressing Choice Most Landlords Get Wrong
Choose roller blinds or sill-length curtains for dog-occupied rooms. Floor-length curtains pool on the ground, where dogs paw and chew the fabric. Where floor-length is required for light management, specify tightly woven washable fabric like polyester-blend rather than linen or silk. Blackout roller blinds in bedrooms are the best window dressing for any pet property and are easier to replace than curtains if damaged.
Walls and Paint: What Actually Cleans After Pets
Specify eggshell or satin finish throughout instead of standard matt emulsion. On hallway and living room walls, use Dulux Scrubbable or equivalent washable paint. Avoid flat matt below 1.2 metres in any pet property, as it can’t be cleaned without repainting. Skirting boards should have a gloss finish.
What Pet-Proofing Actually Costs Versus What Getting It Wrong Costs
In our experience, correct specification costs less than corrective replacement. Here’s the math: suppose LVT at £25/m² for a 60m² flat comes to roughly £1,500 fitted, while replacing stained carpet runs £800 to £1,200. A flooring-related deposit dispute, once cleaning, deductions and delay are added up, can then reach £600 to £2,400.
The pattern holds regardless of exact figures. Durable, pet-appropriate flooring is a one-off cost, but the wrong specification creates recurring costs. In most cases, the upfront investment pays back within a single tenancy.
Choosing the Right Furnishing Partner for a Pet-Friendly Let
Every material choice here points to the same logic: durability at purchase is cheaper than repair at dispute. Pet-friendly demand will only increase, and the right furnishing partner will help you furnish to these standards from the start. If you’re furnishing or refurnishing a rental and want that specification, see our furniture packages.
