Saying yes to pets pays off for landlords

Renters with pets are on the rise, and Zillow data shows listings that welcome them rent faster

• Rental listings on Zillow that allow pets are typically leased eight days faster.
• Fifty-eight percent of renters have pets, up from 46% in 2019.
• Austin, Dallas and San Antonio had the highest share of pet-friendly rental listings on Zillow last year.

SEATTLE, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saying yes to Fido or Mittens can help landlords lease faster. Pet-friendly rentals draw more views, saves and shares, and they are typically snapped up eight days sooner. That's according to a new analysis of more than 11 million rental listings on Zillow® last year.

Renters are getting older, and they are more likely to have pets as they settle into long-term renting. Nearly 6 in 10 renters have a pet, up from 46% before the pandemic. Almost half say they passed on a particular property because it was not pet-friendly.

"Allowing pets can be a strategic edge for landlords competing to fill units," said Emily McDonald, Zillow rental trends expert. "Today's renters are more established and more likely to have a pet, and we clearly see that pet-friendly rentals attract more interest on Zillow. In a market where renters have more options, allowing pets can make the difference in finding a tenant quickly."

Last year, 57% of rental listings on Zillow Rentals, the rental network with more listings than any other,¹ allowed pets. On average, those listings earned 9% more views, 12% more saves and 11% more shares than those that did not allow pets. They were also typically rented out eight days faster.

Texas has a claim as the most pet-friendly state, with Austin (80%), Dallas (79%) and San Antonio (78%) leading all major metro areas in the share of pet-friendly rental listings on Zillow last year. However, nationwide, Houston had the smallest share of rental listings that allowed pets, at just 38%. Also near the bottom were Providence (43%), Hartford (43%) and San Jose (44%).

Pet-friendly rentals in the New York City metro area typically rented 26 days faster than units that did not accept pets, the biggest gap of any major market. Tampa (16 days), Columbus (12 days), Phoenix (11 days), Cincinnati (10 days) and Austin (10 days) also saw pet-friendly listings rented out at least 10 days faster. 

The boost in renter engagement for pet-friendly listings held true nearly across the board among major markets. New York was the only holdout, seeing 2% more saves for pet-friendly units, but 2% fewer views and shares. This is likely because these listings spent 26 fewer days on the market, giving them less time to rack up engagement numbers.

About Zillow Group

Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:Z) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated real estate professionals, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences.

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2025 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

¹ Zillow internal data on total rental properties compared to Apartments.com data published on its website and investor materials, March 2025.

 

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SOURCE Zillow