The issue of discrimination against renters with young children or pets is becoming increasingly acute in the Ukrainian housing rental market. Despite the responsible attitude of most such tenants towards others’ property and the rare cases of actual damage to the housing, landlords are increasingly imposing additional conditions or refusing to rent apartments to these categories of citizens.
This is reported by Finway
Main Barriers to Renting for Families with Children and Pet Owners
Market analysis shows that even with sufficient income levels, renters with children or pets face a number of obstacles due to landlords’ fears and prejudices. Currently, the majority of rental offers come from the old housing stock — over 45%. New buildings account for about a quarter of the market, while another 9% consists of private houses or cottages. The highest activity is observed in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa regions.
The main criteria for landlords remain the tenant’s solvency (59.7%), the absence of pets (59.1%), and the absence of young children (42.6%). Only 53.4% of owners are willing to rent to tenants with pets. Even among those who have already had experience working with pet owners (77% of respondents), just over half rate it as positive.
The most common reasons for refusal are fears of property damage (80%) and unpleasant odors in the premises (64%). Partially changing landlords’ attitudes can be achieved by signing a contract with a clause on additional compensation (54%), as well as an increased deposit or higher rent (34%).
Problems for Renters with Children and Pets: Statistics and Experience
For families with children, renting an apartment is somewhat easier than for pet owners; however, they also often face additional requirements. Most landlords (71%) are willing to work with such families, and 72% have positive experiences. The main problem remains cases of property damage (85%), while complaints from neighbors occur much less frequently (21.4%). Often, owners request an increased deposit or include compensation for possible damages in the contract.
Among those who have searched for housing in the past two years, more than half of renters with pets report significant difficulties in finding accommodation. The most common problems include refusals from owners (78.3%), increased rental costs (56.3%), and heightened scrutiny of the property’s condition (30.8%). At the same time, only 14% acknowledge that their pets caused real damage to the property.
“Over 71% of landlords are willing to work with such tenants, and most (72%) have positive experiences. The main reason for negative cases is property damage (85%), while complaints from neighbors are recorded less frequently (21.4%).”
For parents, the situation is somewhat simpler, although not without difficulties: a quarter of respondents reported that finding housing with a child is very difficult, another 31% said it is rather difficult, and only 11% consider it not a problem at all. The main obstacles include refusals due to the presence of children (56%), increased rent (44.6%), and excessive control from landlords (35.8%). Only 14.4% of parents admit that their children caused damage, and these issues were usually resolved through repairs or compensation.
Other factors also influence landlords’ decisions: the tenant’s stable employment (41.3%), marital status (36%), and the status of internally displaced persons (23.8%). Although less than 10% of owners mention the importance of political views or positions on the war, tenants still encounter biased attitudes towards military personnel and displaced persons from Donbas.
Experts recommend entering into written agreements, carefully documenting the condition of the property upon handover, and avoiding discriminatory requirements. This approach will promote transparency, reduce risks, and create more comfortable conditions for all parties in rental relationships.