A home being pet-friendly is the most desirable attribute in a rental property, according to research by a specialist mortgage lender. 

The study by Landbay found that nearly one-in-seven renters rated ‘pets being allowed in the property’ as their most important requirement. That figure nearly doubles in the North East but shrinks to just three per cent of renters in London. 

Women are more than twice as likely as men to prioritise a pet-friendly property.

A home which is unfurnished comes second, with 12 per cent of renters saying this is the most desirable attribute. Renters aged 55 and above are five times more likely to consider an unfurnished property as crucially important than those aged between 18 and 34.

A garden was third, with 11 per cent of renters rating outdoor space as their most important attribute. Off-street parking and the quality of a property’s décor came fourth and fifth respectively.

A spokeswoman for the lender says:  “Landbay is investing in a research series to help landlords understand tenants and opportunities within the private rental sector. This edition shows renters value two key attributes above all others that are fundamentally free to bring in. 

“In short, they want to make their property feel like home by bringing both pets and their own furniture with them. The reality is, aside from a deeper clean at the end of a tenancy, this really isn’t hard for landlords to implement.

“Essentially, landlords knowing what renters want can make for a happier, more prosperous relationship which benefits both parties in the long run.”