Where can you find pet friendly flats in London? We list the top 20 pet friendly rental options in London, according to reviews from people already living in them!
There are private landlords who are fine with you having dogs, cats or more exotic pets in your property. However, pet friendly properties can be hard to find and are increasingly popular among Londoners, especially following nearly two years of lockdowns!
Do London apartments allow pets?
There are lots of pet-friendly rentals in London. In fact, several build to rent developers specifically operate pet-friendly policies to appeal to the animal-loving rental crowd.
However, lots of landlords (individuals and rental property companies) do not allow tenants to have pets at all. Some will only allow specific types of pets – usually small, quiet ones that won’t cause much disturbance.
This is why it is essential to know the pet policy of any potential rental property upfront.
How do I know if I can have a pet in my rental property?
It should be easy to find out if you’re allowed to have pets in your rental home. Simply ask the landlord or management company to clarify their pet policy. The exact terms and conditions regarding pets should also be laid out clearly in the lease agreement between you and your landlord.
While lots of rental landlords don’t like to allow dogs, there are plenty that do. Again, it is entirely dependent on the preferences and set policy of the specific landlord or property company.
Can you take dogs on trains in London?
Luckily, TfL (Transport for London) operates a dog-friendly operating policy. Dogs are allowed onto all TfL buses, trains, trams and the tube without charge. So, if you want to get out and about with your furry friend, you don’t have to rely on walking everywhere.
How do I find pet friendly rentals?
One of the easiest ways to find a pet-friendly flat is to look at purpose-built developments (known as ‘Build to Rent‘). These are some of the best options for pet owners looking for a new London rental apartment. Build to Rent developments often have entire floors dedicated to animal owners, as well as extra facilities for helping you to look after your pet.
Our resident reviews of these apartments provide insights into London’s very best pet-friendly rental homes. These homes also usually come beautifully furnished and all of our top 20 will have excellent management teams. These teams even put on social events for residents, including pet-themed events like doggy yoga!
Why is it so hard to rent with pets?
Many landlords think pets are too great a risk. Unruly pets can damage properties. In addition, most apartments in a city like London will have limited facilities for pets – unless they are specifically designed to house them.
Another great thing about renting with a Build to Rent landlord is that you’ll get to meet other pet owners. The buildings will have been designed with dogs and cats in mind. You know you won’t be disturbing other residents! Our top 20 pet friendly rental developments are an excellent place to start looking for your new rental property.
With locations ranging from Stratford and Croydon to Bethnal Green and Dalston, let’s find the perfect home for you and your furry/feathered friends!
be:here Hayes is our highest-rated pet-friendly rental development. This popular scheme is a residential development from Build to Rent developer be:here. The complex includes 119 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including attractive pet-friendly options. It is part of the Old Vinyl Factory development, which also includes commercial units, such as restaurants, leisure amenities and a music venue.
Vantage Point is currently our second highest-rated, pet-friendly rental development in London. This Build to Rent development by Essential Living offers 118 apartments – studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. All Vantage Point residents get access to a range of features and amenities, including a 24-hour onsite team, a roof terrace, games room and exercise room.
Sailmakers takes third spot in our top 20. The development is a pet-friendly Build to Rent scheme in the heart of Canary Wharf. It’s a consistently popular building, with an extremely high overall HomeViews rating of 4.65. If you're looking for the perfect spot for you and your pet(s), Sailmakers by developer Greystar is one of the UK's best options.
At number four, Blackhorse Mills is a relatively recent addition to this list. It’s styled as more than just a home; it’s a way of life. Residents have the freedom to paint the walls, swim in the lido, chill on the roof terrace, work out in the gym, host friends in the dining rooms, stretch in the yoga studio, and, obviously, bring your pets. Overlooking the wilds of Walthamstow Wetlands, yet just 20 minutes to Central London on the Victoria Line from Blackhorse Road station, Blackhorse Mills combines the perks of having nature nearby with the lure of big city living too.
Elephant Central takes fifth place in our list of pet-friendly options for renters. Anyone looking for chic London rental apartments that also welcome pets should consider Elephant Central by Get Living. This Build to Rent development is located in the heart of London’s Elephant & Castle. This is a Zone 1 location with great connections to the City, London Bridge and King’s Cross. In addition, there’s a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments on offer here, with duplexes and penthouses available, too.
Union Wharf is a pet-friendly development by London property developer Essential Living, featuring 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek – near Greenwich town centre. The development is made up of two towers that are 23 and 12 storeys high and house a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary Wharf and beyond.
In 7th place, 8 Water Street comprises 174 apartments. Residents can enjoy access to a landscaped private garden. This overlooks the South Dock and the quiet boardwalks and floating pavilions of Water Square. Similarly, the development also boasts an expansive roof terrace. This is the largest outdoor space in the Vertus portfolio.
Our 8th spot goes to East Village, which offers fully-furnished studios to four bedroom apartments and townhouses with superfast WiFi included and pet friendly options. The majority of homes here come with access to private outdoor space, with the option of a balcony, winter garden, terrace and communal courtyards, and are also surrounded by open green spaces.
In at number 9, Fizzy Canning Town is a friendly and welcoming development by pet-friendly Build to Rent landlord Fizzy Living. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are available here in a stylish multi-storey building. It forms part of the larger Vermillion development, which is only a few minutes’ walk from Canning Town Station.
As we hit the halfway point of the list, Dalston Works, by Regal London and managed by Native, features a selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the heart of Dalston. All 121 units are available on a rental-only basis. Each home has a private balcony, Conran furnished interiors, resident only roof terraces, free super-fast WIFI and spacious layouts. All apartments also come complete with white goods, including a washing machine and dishwasher. Dalston Works is within a 7-minute walk from both Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction Overground stations. Hackney Downs station is just a little further on.
At 11, we head over to Wembley Park to find Montana & Dakota, a residential development from Build to Rent developer Quintain Living. There are 140 apartments on site, with a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments available. Residents have access to a range of facilities including a residents gym and a hireable cinema room. In addition, there are two resident lounges with Sky HD TV, a pool table and free WiFi. The development is also close to Wembley Park Underground Station and there’s a great variety of shops, restaurants and bars nearby.
In 12th place, Fizzy Hayes UB3 is a residential development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in south Hayes, right near Hayes & Harlinton Station, and just a short drive from London Heathrow Airport. The development sits between two popular green spaces – Minet Country Park and Lake Farm Country Park. As with all Fizzy developments, it's perfect for pet owners.
Our 13th entry is Charter Place, an INSTRATA Lifestyle Residence, managed by Greystar. It features a collection of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom rental homes. Residents have access to an onsite gym, lounge, a private dining room, and co-working spaces. In addition, Charter Place is only a short walk away from Hounslow East Underground Station.
Another entry for Fizzy Living, Fizzy Stepney Green has a prime setting in E1, very close to Stepney Green Underground and Queen Mary’s University. There are one, two and three-bedroom apartments here, all of them rental-only with excellent access to pet-friendly facilities.
Are you seeing a pattern emerging? Fizzy Lewisham is another popular listing from the Fizzy Living series. Again, it’s made up of one and two-bedroom flats and is, of course, entirely pet friendly. It also has a prime location close to Lewisham Station, which means frequent and easy Central London connections for its residents.
And again, Fizzy Epsom secures another top spot for Fizzy Living. The development is a contemporary setting located in the leafy Surrey market town of Epsom. Made up of a collection of one and two-bedroom apartments, the complex is handily located next to Epsom train station. Also, the development sits an easy walk from Epsom’s main high street.
L&Q at The Treacle Works comprises of a collection studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes. Located within the wider Royal Wharf development, The Treacle Works is positioned just a few minutes’ walk from Pontoon Dock DLR station, where Canary Wharf is accessible in 9 minutes and Bank in under 20 minutes. Residents here benefit from an on-site concierge service, a 25-metre swimming pool, and leisure/fitness facilities at The Clubhouse.
Fizzy Living gains another entry on our top 20 list with Fizzy Walthamstow. Like the other entries, it has one, two and three-bedroom apartments and a great range of pet-friendly facilities on site. Located in East London’s E17, it’s close to Blackhorse Road Overground and Underground station. Additionally, it is an easy walk from the Walthamstow Reservoirs, just to the west of the development.
The penultimate entry, Alameda is a residential development by the Build to Rent developer Quintain Living. It features a variety of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments with furniture co-designed with John Lewis & Partners and kitchens co-designed by Samsung. In addition, residents can enjoy a roof garden featuring a 5-metre cinema screen as well as two BBQ areas complete with seating. Similarly, there are two resident lounges downstairs and a large work-from-home area with free WiFi. Alameda is also conveniently close to Wembley Park tube station.
And finally, our list is rounded off with Upton Park’s The Forge, which was previously a bus depot before Telford Homes transformed the site into a residential development with the help of RMA Architects. The development comprises a mix of 192 apartments and townhouses – a combination of affordable housing and a portion of Build to Rent housing now managed by Savills. Recently completed in 2019, the site is close to Upton Park tube station.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
Explore more pet-friendly developments here, or tell us what your current development is like by leaving a review here.
