Moving to the UK With Pets: An Expert's Guide to Finding Your New Home

At Vicuna Air, our UK property partner is Pets Lets. Their founder Russell Hunt has written this guide to finding a pet-friendly home for you and your companion when you relocate to the UK.

By Russell Hunt, Founder of Pets Lets

Moving to the UK with your dog or cat is an exciting adventure. But while arranging your pet's journey is one important part of relocating, finding somewhere suitable for you both to live can bring its own challenges.

With over 30 years' experience in the UK property industry, and now specialising in helping people relocate with their pets, I've seen how the right preparation can make all the difference.

Here are my seven top tips for finding and securing your new home.

The UK rental market, particularly in London, moves quickly. Desirable properties can receive multiple offers within days, sometimes hours.

Start researching locations, rental prices and requirements around 2 to 3 months before your move. You don't necessarily need to secure a home before travelling, but you need to have a plan.

Some landlords welcome cats but hesitate over dogs. Others may consider one pet but not several. Apartment buildings can still say no to pets, and some have weight or number restrictions. Some even try to charge pet fees, which under the new laws is illegal.

England's Renters' Rights Act has strengthened tenants' rights to request pets, but it is not a blanket yes to pets.

Always establish the pet policy before arranging viewings.

Yes, really! A Pet CV can make a surprising difference. I suggest using this free Pet CV Builder.

Include a lovely photograph, your pet's age, breed, size, temperament and any relevant training. Previous landlord references can also help.

It's about reassuring landlords that you're a responsible pet owner and helping your application stand out.

If you're arriving from the USA or elsewhere overseas, UK referencing requirements may be unfamiliar.

Letting agents typically require proof of income, employment details and financial documentation. Not having a UK credit history can sometimes complicate matters.

Having everything prepared before making an offer can save valuable time and avoid disappointment.

A beautiful home isn't necessarily the right home for your pet.

For dogs, consider parks, walking routes and nearby green spaces. For cats, think about safety, outdoor access and the property's layout.

London has some wonderful pet-friendly neighbourhoods, but the right location should suit your lifestyle, commute and budget too.

A pet-friendly serviced apartment can be an excellent starting point while you search for a permanent home.

Confirm everything before booking and allow sufficient time for your property search.

Finding a property is one thing. Securing it, particularly with pets and when relocating internationally, can be quite another.

Understanding the market, presenting a strong application and negotiating with landlords can make a significant difference.

At Pets Lets, we help clients relocating from around the world find and secure pet-friendly homes across London and the UK, often overcoming challenges they hadn't anticipated.

Moving countries is a big step, but with the right preparation and support, finding somewhere you and your pet can call home is absolutely achievable.

After all, they're not just coming along for the ride. They're part of the family.

Russell Hunt is the Founder of Pets Lets, a specialist UK property brokerage and Vicuna Air’s UK property partner, helping people find and secure pet-friendly homes across London and the wider UK.

With over 30 years' property experience, Russell and his team provide personalised rental, buying and relocation support for clients moving with their dogs and cats.

Russell’s advice covers the half of the move that happens once you land. The flight is the half we look after.

Vicuna Air offers private, in-cabin travel for pets and their owners – never in cargo.

To plan a journey with us, get in touch or message us on WhatsApp.