Pet ownership among renters saw an upswing during the pandemic and has shown no signs of waning in the years since. An ASPCA/Ipsos survey in 2021 found that one in five households had acquired a dog or cat in the previous year. What’s more, 87% of the study respondents said they’re not considering rehoming their animal.
By 2023, 59% of renters in reported having at least one pet, up from 46% in 2019. Respondents to this year’s Zillow Consumer Housing Trend Report this year showed that the affinity for non-human companions hasn’t waned.
Here are five statistics from the survey that stand out.
The pet filter is the top search modifier on Zillow
Twice as many potential renters toggle the filter for pet-friendly listings than for any other amenity on the site, underscoring the high demand for rental homes that allow pets. Last year, more than half of rental listings on Zillow indicated they allow pets.
Renters are more likely to report having a pet than a child
Fifty-eight percent of renter households report having a pet. That’s more than the 33% who reported having a child. It’s even more than those who reported having a plant (47%).
Nearly half of potential renters pass on properties with pet bans, restrictions
Just under half (44%) said they had passed on a particular property because it prohibited pets. And 32% said the same about a property with restrictions on pet breed or size.
60% of renters consider it essential to allow pets
Six in ten renters say they consider it essential that a unit allow pets when they’re deciding whether to rent. That number was higher for single-family home renters, 67% of whom deemed it essential, but 57% of multifamily renters also answered that way.
6 in 10 renters cited pet policies for staying in their rental
60% of renters said the property allowing pets was a significant reason for their decision to renew. This was among other factors such as rental costs being a good deal (72%), quiet neighbors (69%) and not being able to afford to move somewhere else (68%).
Aside from cost — which is invariably renters’ number one concern — renters have routinely indicated that pets are a top priority over the last few years of the Consumer Housing Trends Report, as many of these statistics illustrate. Gen Z, a growing percentage of overall renters, has also shown an inclination to pets. Keeping tabs on this trend will be advantageous for staying competitive in the rental market.
For more stats on renters (and their pets), get your copy of the 2025 Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report.
