A suite of new ‘pet-let’ products is to be offered by The Lettings Hub, which already has some 1,000-plus agents on its books.

The new offer comes as a result of The Lettings Hub snapping up PetsScore, a pet referencing company that operates in both the short and long-term rental markets.

The acquisition comes as interest in pet-friendly accommodation outweighs other areas of growth – at least according to The Lettings Hub –  with demand for pet-friendly property up 120 per cent in 2021 compared to the previous year. 

Chief executive Heidi Shackell says: “3.2m households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, with 59 per cent of new owners aged 16 to 34 years old, so it’s common sense that we’ll see this translate more and more into the rental market and tenants’ needs. Getting a pet is a long-term responsibility, and we are seeing the ‘pet issue’ gain momentum at government level too.”

She says her company is working on “solutions” that give those landlords and letting agents that already allow, or want to consider pets, additional information, and protection to make informed decisions. 

“Some landlords and letting agents have previously had bad experiences with pets in property or are not keen to take an ‘unnecessary’ risk when there are so many tenants queuing for each property right now. Others will continue to rely on deposits or higher rents to offset the risk of pets” she admits. 

But she continues: “We also believe a significant section of the market are looking towards newer solutions, focused on better due diligence and increased protection for landlords, whilst providing tenants with a valuable tool to overcome objections and encourage more long-term lets. PetsScore forms a key part of the total digital pet package we are developing, and we’re excited to have completed this acquisition as an important step towards achieving that.” 

PetsScore founder Natasha Homer-Earley adds: “Pet ownership is at an all-time high, getting on the property ladder has never been further out of reach for millions and there is a chasm between the availability of pet-friendly rental properties and the overwhelming demand for them.”