69% of pet-owning renters prioritized pet-friendly communities in their last search, PetScreening finds
PetScreening's 2026 Pet Influence Study, released October 21st, 2026, finds 69% of pet-owning renters prioritized pet-friendly communities in their most recent apartment search and 58% would pay at least $25 more a month for pet amenities. It also covers pets at work and on the road.
PetScreening, which sells pet policy software to property managers, released its 2026 Pet Influence Study on October 21st, 2026, and found that 69% of pet-owning renters prioritized pet-friendly communities in their most recent apartment search. The company puts the figure at 76% among renters under 30.
PetScreening says the study pools 6,052 responses gathered in the first half of 2026, mostly from current, past and non-pet owners in pet-friendly rental communities. A 1,000-person travel survey within it was run by Veridata Insights.
Renters will pay for pet perks they can see
The fee findings are the part a landlord can price against. According to the study:
- 85% of renters would pay a fee for premium pet amenities such as fenced yards, lost-pet services and pet waste stations
- 58% would pay at least $25 more per month
- 63% say pet-related benefits would influence their apartment choice
Renters also back screening. 69% say requiring vaccination records and behavior history is reasonable, and 69% say tracking behavior history is important. Among non-pet owners, 58% feel more comfortable in communities where all pets are documented.
That is PetScreening's own product category. It moved deeper into the leasing workflow in May, when Yardi added pet screening to Renter Essentials, its add-on services bundle for landlords.
"Pets are becoming an important part of the customer journey across housing, work and travel," said John Bradford, CEO of PetScreening.
Younger pet owners say pets would pull them into the office
More than half of pet owners (54%) say they would visit their workplace more often if pets were allowed. Among pet owners ages 18 to 44, that climbs to 76%.
Some 72% of pet owners consider pet-friendly workplace benefits valuable, and 11% say they have changed jobs because of a pet.
Vacation rentals carry the clearest travel premium
On the road, 64% of pet owners say their pet is likely to shape their travel plans. The booking numbers show where that goes:
- 55% have chosen one hotel over another because of their pet
- 48% have picked a vacation rental instead of a hotel
- 67% would pay at least $25 more per night for a pet-welcoming vacation rental
That lines up with Subaru's October survey of 2,000 pet-owning drivers, in which 68% expected a pet to affect their travel plans this year.
One spending figure does not match across PetScreening's own materials. Its announcement says 81% of pet owners are willing to spend more on products and services that better accommodate their pets, while the study page and its graphic put that share at 57%. Both say 51% believe pet-accommodating businesses earn greater loyalty.
For property managers, the most usable line is a quieter one. 61% of respondents say they are more willing to pay pet fees when those fees are connected to clear benefits.
Source: PetScreening via PR Newswire
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