Renters reveal their biggest rental deal-breakers: pet-friendly homes and outdoor space are among the top priorities, and many would pay up to 10% more to secure them

UK renters have revealed the features they care about most when choosing a rented home, and new research commissioned by CIA Landlords in December 2025 shows pet-friendly policies and access to outdoor space are among the most influential factors shaping rental decisions.

The findings also highlight that renters view their homes as more than just a practical decision. In fact, 87% say where they live contributes to their mental wellbeing, underlining why factors like outdoor space and a lifestyle-friendly home environment are becoming increasingly important.

In a poll of 2,000 UK renters, conducted by OnePoll, 32% said access to a private garden or outdoor space is one of the most important features when choosing a property, while 30% ranked being able to rent with a pet as a top priority. The same features also emerged as major “non-negotiables”. 29% said a pet ban would be a deal-breaker, and 25% said the same about not having a garden or outdoor space.

Crucially for landlords, the research suggests these lifestyle features can justify a premium. When asked how much extra they’d pay to secure their key non-negotiable feature, renters said they would pay an average of 10.77% more. More than a quarter (26%) said they’d be willing to pay 5–10% more in rent, with a further 13% willing to pay 11–25% more.

Jackie Compton, Sales Director at CIA Landlords said: “This research shows renters are looking for homes that genuinely support day-to-day life, not just a place to sleep. With 87% saying where they live contributes to their mental wellbeing, features like outdoor space and pet-friendly policies are becoming a real differentiator. It’s also reassuring to see that 85% of renters feel secure in their current tenancy which shows that when landlords communicate clearly and look after their properties, it does translate into stability for tenants and longer, smoother tenancies overall.”

The study also points to a largely positive picture of landlord-tenant relationships. Two-thirds (67%) of renters rated their landlord or letting agent as favourable, including 29% who rated it very favourable.

Jackie added: “It’s easy to assume the relationship between renters and landlords is always adversarial, but the data suggests most renters actually feel positive about their landlord or agent. That’s encouraging, and it shows how far good communication and responsive maintenance can go. Landlords who look after their properties, respect privacy, and keep tenants informed build trust, which is what helps tenancies last.”

Alongside property features, renters highlighted the issues most likely to push them away from a rental. The biggest being unexpected or large rent increases (55%) and slow repairs to serious issues like damp or heating problems (51%). Privacy and communication were also key concerns, with 44% citing frequent unannounced visits or lack of privacy as a deal-breaker, and 38% saying poor communication or being difficult to contact would make them avoid or leave a property.

Renters also shared how they prefer landlords to communicate going forward, with email (32%) the top choice, followed by instant messaging apps (24%), phone calls (19%), and tenant portals (10%).

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash