If you take just one thing away from this: paperwork first, viewings second.
Yet time and time again, tenants start scrolling portals, booking viewings, falling in love with a property… and then think about documents. In today’s rental market, that’s backwards and costly.
Right now, landlords and agents are not short of demand. What they are short of is time. Decisions are made quickly and often conservatively. The offer that looks the safest, simplest and least risky usually wins. That is because landlords are nervous about taking on tenants with the Renters Rights Bill changes and the abolition of section 21 which makes eviction much more tricky.
That’s where preparation comes in.
Why paperwork matters more than ever
Whether you have a pet or not, landlords want reassurance. They want to know who you are, how you earn your money, that the rent will be paid, and that there won’t be problems down the line.
Add a pet into the mix and the bar goes up again. Not because pets are bad tenants (they’re often the opposite), but because landlords fear uncertainty. Good paperwork removes that fear.
What being prepared actually means
It’s not just a passport and bank statement. Strong applicants can clearly present proof of income or savings, references that stack up, a short professional explanation of their situation, even a bit about hobbies to add a personal element, and, where relevant, clear information about their pet(s).
When an agent can send a neat, complete pack to a landlord, it makes their life easier too. Guess whose offer they’re more likely to push?
The cost of being unprepared
Turning up to viewings without paperwork ready often leads to missed deadlines, rushed applications, weaker negotiation positions, and losing out to someone who was simply better organised.
In competitive markets, it’s rarely about who loved the property most. It’s about who looked like the safest bet.
The bottom line
Property portals make renting feel casual. It isn’t. If you’re serious about securing a rental, especially with a pet , treat it like a job application, not a hobby.
Prepare properly before you start looking. You’ll move faster, negotiate better, and avoid a lot of unnecessary stress. And yes, your future landlord will notice.
Pets Lets Commentary
At Pets Lets , we support sensible reform and responsible pet ownership. But legislation alone doesn’t secure pet-friendly homes. Preparation does. In a market where landlords are adapting defensively, tenants with pets need to present themselves clearly, professionally and realistically. Renting with pets has never been about entitlement. It’s about understanding how landlords think and meeting them there.
I’m Russell Hunt, Founder of Pets Lets , a UK property consultancy specialising in pet-friendly rentals and set up the Relocating to the UK with Pets Facebook Group
With 30 years’ experience in the London property market, I help clients from the UK and overseas find homes where both they and their pets are truly welcome.
