Two thirds of pet owning tenants have faced challenges finding a place to rent – at least according to a survey by a Build To Rent operator that boasts of accepting cats and dogs.

The poll, conducted by Greystar – which calls itself “the global leader in rental housing” – claims that one in 14 pet owners have lied to a landlord in order to secure a rental property whilst, one in 20 has given up a pet in order to rent a home. 

And Greystar claims 70 per cent would be willing to pay extra for a pet-friendly rental property, with one-in-four willing to stretch to £100 per month more.

Whilst the situation for pet-owning renters appears to be improving, with 48 per cent reporting they have found it easier to find pet-friendly accommodation in the past few years, 99 per cent apparently believe more landlords and rental buildings should allow pets. 

A spokesperson for Greystar says: “For many renters, pets aren’t simply animals; they’re a member of the family – and it’s heartbreaking to learn that many renters have even been forced to give up their beloved pets in the past due to restrictive rental agreements.”

Over two-thirds of pet owners polled cited access to green space in the local area as the most important factor when choosing a rental property, with factors such as proximity to like-minded pet owners (36 per cent) and specific facilities specifically for pets (33 per cent) also rated highly.