Supporting Pet-Friendly Housing: Insights from Our Latest Member Session
Wednesday 18th of March 2026
We recently brought members together for a collaborative session with Dogs Trust to explore how the housing sector can better support residents to keep their pets.
With growing recognition of the role pets play in people’s lives, the session focused on practical ways housing providers can create more pet-friendly policies, while still promoting responsible ownership.
Why pet-friendly housing matters
A key message throughout the session was simple but powerful: pets are part of the family.
From improving mental health and reducing loneliness to supporting people through difficult times such as homelessness or domestic abuse, pets can have a huge positive impact on residents’ wellbeing.
However, many tenants still face barriers when it comes to keeping pets, particularly in flats or homes with shared spaces.
Learning from Dogs Trust
Jen and Rachael from Dogs Trust shared insights from their Pet-Friendly Housing Accreditation Scheme, including a successful pilot in Scotland.
The pilot has already helped deliver over 43,000 pet-friendly homes across 27 local authorities, demonstrating what’s possible when organisations take a proactive approach.
They also introduced their practical toolkit for housing providers, which includes:
- Guidance on developing fair and consistent pet policies
- Resources and training for staff
- Information to support responsible pet ownership
- Templates and tools to help organisations get started
Importantly, the accreditation process is free, flexible and designed to build confidence among housing providers.
Honest conversations from the sector
Members shared a wide range of experiences from their own organisations.
While some highlighted positive, supportive approaches, others spoke about ongoing challenges, particularly around:
- Restrictions in flats and communal areas
- Inconsistent policies
- “Hidden pets” where residents feel unable to be open
These discussions reinforced the need for clear, fair and realistic policies that work for both residents and landlords.
Moving forward
The session ended with a shared commitment to:
- Promote responsible pet ownership
- Challenge outdated perceptions of pets in social housing
- Work towards more inclusive, consistent policies
There was strong interest from members in exploring the Dogs Trust accreditation further, as well as continuing the conversation across the sector.
Want to learn more?
We’ll be sharing the session recording and further resources in our upcoming e-zine. You can read more about the Pet-Friendly Housing Accreditation Scheme here
You can access the recording from the session here