How a Simple Pet Policy Change Can Cut Vacancies by Weeks

If your landlord client is still clinging to a strict no-pets policy, it might be costing them time and money. According to a recent Zillow news release, rental listings that allow pets don’t just perform better online. They rent faster. 

And in some markets, a lot faster.

In a landscape where listings are piling up and tenants have options, one of the simplest ways for landlords to stand out is by saying yes to pets (within reason).

The Rise of Pet-Owning Renters

Pet ownership among renters has surged since the pandemic. According to Zillow’s analysis of more than 11 million listings, 58% of renters now have pets, up from 46% in 2019.

And they’re not just hoping a landlord might make an exception. Nearly half of all renters said they passed on a property because it didn’t allow pets.

That alone should make your clients think twice. If a listing excludes pets, it could be invisible to more than half the market.

Depending on their situation (and market), your landlord might be perfectly okay with that. But if you know rental units in your market have been sitting vacant for months, it’s worth passing on this information. 

More Views. More Saves. Faster Leases.

Zillow found that pet-friendly rentals:

• Get 9% more views
• Earn 12% more saves
• See 11% more shares

And perhaps most importantly, they rent eight days faster on average. 

As Zillow rental trends expert Emily McDonald put it:

“Allowing pets can be a strategic edge for landlords competing to fill units. 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.”

Some Markets See a Bigger Boost

While pet-friendly listings rent faster in most metros, some cities show a much wider gap. Here are the standouts, based on how much quicker pet-friendly rentals secured tenants compared to pet-restricted units:

• New York City: 26 days faster
• Tampa, FL: 16 days faster
• Columbus, OH: 12 days faster
• Phoenix, AZ: 11 days faster
• Cincinnati, OH and Austin, TX: 10 days faster

Even in highly competitive rental markets, that kind of time savings can mean fewer missed opportunities and a stronger bottom line.

Texas Is Leading the Way

If you’re working with landlords in Texas, there’s a good chance they’re already feeling the pressure to be more pet-permissive. In 2024, these major metros topped the list for the highest share of pet-friendly listings:

• Austin: 80%
• Dallas: 79%
• San Antonio: 78%

Compare that to Houston, where only 38% of listings allowed pets. That was the lowest share among major metros in the country.

Other metros with the highest shares of pet-friendly listings: 

• Denver, CO: 77%
• Nashville, TN: 77%
• Kansas City, MO: 76%
• Charlotte, NC: 72%
• Oklahoma City, OK: 72%
• Raleigh, NC: 72%
• Tampa, FL: 71%
• Jacksonville, FL: 71%

Seattle, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Indianapolis all tied with a 70% share of pet-friendly listings.

Not All Markets See the Same Return

There are exceptions. In places like Salt Lake City (3 days slower), Buffalo (6 days slower), and Hartford (7 days slower), pet-friendly listings actually took longer to lease.

So, before pushing your landlord clients to change their policy, look at comps. Understand local renter demographics. And factor in property type. 

Some rentals just aren’t a good match for pets, and that’s okay.

Key Takeaways

• Pet-friendly listings rent eight days faster on average and get more online engagement.
• In cities like New York, Tampa, and Austin, allowing pets can cut vacancy time by 10 to 26 days.
• 58% of renters have pets, and nearly half have skipped properties that didn’t allow them.
• Local trends matter. Always compare with comps before advising a policy shift.

Let your landlord clients know. A little flexibility might be the difference between a stale listing and a signed lease.