The most pet-friendly boroughs in London have been revealed – and Kingston has topped the list.
According to a study by independent London property agents Douglas & Gordon, Kingston has been crowned the most pet-friendly borough with 47% of properties with garden space and 183 parks, gardens, recreation grounds and nature reserves.
Since the UK went into lockdown, the demand for pet-friendly rentals skyrocketed by 120% in London and the trend is likely to continue.
Dogfriendly.co.uk co-founder Steve Bennett told SWL: “Dog ownership has grown during the pandemic and more people have decided to take advantage of ‘staycations’ during the pandemic.
“We have seen a big increase in visitors to our website and more businesses asking us for advice on welcoming dogs into their premises.”
Kingston is followed by Lewisham which offers 54% of properties for sale with a garden, while the City of Westminster offers the least property with outdoor space.
When it comes to properties with outdoor space, Kingson tops the list once again with 47% of homes with a garden, followed by Wandsworth, Greenwich, and Lewisham.
However, not all rental properties with garden space are pet-friendly as only 7% of private landlords advertise pet-friendly properties in the UK.
Yet, as a result of the Model Tenancy Agreement announced in January 2021, consent for pets is now the default position, making pet-friendly homes much easier to find.
When it comes to green spaces, Richmond is a close second thanks to nearby Bushy Park, Hampton Court, Kew Gardens and Richmond Park.
According to Douglas & Gordon, London is the most pet-friendly city in Europe for its pet-centric infrastructure and lifestyle options, like doggy daycares, vets, and pet-friendly restaurants.
The London Underground has also been voted the most dog-friendly public transport system globally, which makes travel around the city easy and comfortable for pets.
The city also offers a wide range of pet-friendly restaurants, such as Smith & Whistle with its “Dogtail” menu, London’s very first permanent drinks list created entirely for dogs.
Bennett added: “We have seen more businesses and places in London welcoming dogs.
“Some businesses are concerned about customers’ reaction to dogs being welcomed, especially those customers with allergies.
“But there has been a lot of research that has proven the benefits of having dogs around, including general atmosphere and also the benefits on mental health of having a dog.
“There is also research that shows welcoming dogs can actually increase revenue.”
According to Dogfriendly.co.uk, there are more than 59,000 listings on its database – a 10% rise compared to the previous year – including Oliver Bonas, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, Wilko, Zara, and Lush.
You can view the full study by Douglas & Gordan here.
Image by TheOtherKev from Pixabay
