If you’ve ever tried renting in Spain with a dog, cat, or any furry sidekick, you’ll know the struggle is very real. While more people than ever are relocating from the UK, the US, and across Europe with pets in tow, genuinely pet-friendly rentals are still surprisingly hard to come by. Which is a bit odd really, considering nearly half the population seems to own a sausage dog, or some variation of doodle. For landlords and mid-term rental hosts, that gap presents an opportunity: stand out instantly, attract longer stays, and appeal to a growing group of international renters who are turned away by the majority. On today’s blog, I’ve decided to break down the reasons why you, as a Stepping Stone owner, should consider going pet-friendly, with the help of some of Valencia Property and Stepping Stone’s very own furry friends.
The Trend
It’ll come as no surprise to anyone that relocation to Spain has surged in recent years, but in the past two years alone, the number of people moving here has jumped by an impressive 26%. At the same time, pet ownership is higher than ever. Around half of households in Spain own pets, while nearly 6 in 10 renters in the United States have pets of their own. More and more people relocating internationally are choosing to bring their animals with them rather than leave them behind. Out of all daily enquiries we receive, I would estimate that a good 60% (if not higher) include pets.
The challenge is that pet-friendly rentals are still surprisingly limited, with some studies estimating that fewer than 10% of rental listings in Spain openly allow pets. That creates a very clear opportunity for mid-term rental owners: a growing number of renters actively searching for homes where their pets are welcome, with relatively little competition from other listings.
The Logistics
Of course, the hesitation around pets is understandable. No one wants to be left wit mysterious smells, scratched furniture, or a sofa turned chew toy. The good news is that with the right preparation, pet-friendly apartments can be managed very smoothly.
We take a practical approach to ensure your property remains clean and well cared for, including:
- An additional deposit to cover any accidents
- A higher cleaning fee, to ensure our team can do a thorough post cleaning job
- Clear house rules for pet owners
- Mid stay cleaning
- Open communication with guests and owners on what needs preparing before arrival
In reality, many pet owners are exceptionally respectful guests because they know how difficult pet-friendly accommodation can be to find. Upon specification, we can also request that the renters provide plastic sheets to keep sofas and beds covered where possible.
The Benefits
Opening your apartment to furry friends isn’t just a nice gesture, it’s one of the clearest performance drivers we’ve seen across our mid-term portfolio.
Out of around 35 apartments, approximately 4 are consistently pet friendly, yet those are the properties that see consistent reservations. In many cases, they are the first to be booked and the least likely to sit vacant between stays. We regularly see back-to-back reservations on these properties, with minimal downtime between guests.
While pet-friendly stays can involve slightly more attention during turnover, this is more than offset by the reduction in vacancy periods and the consistently higher booking demand.
We also see a clear pattern in guest behaviour. Pet owners relocating internationally tend to stay longer, plan further ahead, and prioritise reliability over marginal price differences. Once they find a property that works for both them and their pet, they tend to go for it.
One of our success stories being ‘White River Apartment‘ – aside from being a spacious, well equipped and fantastically located apartment, that all clients seem to love, one factor sets it apart and ensures it’s consistently reserved – it’s pet policy. As you can tell, with it’s next availability being Jan 2027! Another of our popular pet-friendly properties is ‘Home is Where the Heart is’, seeing consistent reservations, and minimal empty periods.
Our owners often appreciate that we don’t typically work with students (nothing personal, we’ve all been there) and instead focus on families, couples, and retirees. This tends to bring a different dynamic: longer stays, greater stability, and generally lower turnover, which many landlords value for the added peace of mind and reduced day-to-day management.
Of course, that shift in tenant profile comes with it’s own challenges. Families and couples are far more likely to relocate with pets, so allowing animals becomes part of serving that same high-quality, mid-stay market. It’s a trade-off, but one that tends to work in our favour: a slightly different set of considerations in exchange for stronger occupancy, more reliable tenants, and a calmer overall rental experience, as well as higher demand for your property. If you’re looking to boost enquiries, give your apartment an edge, and fill those gaps I would highly recommend opening the door to pets!
As an owner, there is another way to deal with pets in your rental: simply charge a higher rate. For example, if it was 1000/month without a pet, the rental would be 1100/month with a pet. This saves arguing over the deposit at the end of the rental period and compensates the owner both for the additional cleanup and the increased long-term wear and tear. This might not be the best for short-term rentals, but when I was an owner, it was great for the long-term ones. It allowed me to more frequently replace curtains, rugs, etc. as well as paying for deep cleaning.
Hi Lisa! Yes absolutely. Pet policy is definitely taken into consideration when pricing an apartment.