BuySellBA
Administrator
The tenants' demand that more and more landlords are having to accept - La Nacion Propiedades
Source:
El pedido de los inquilinos que cada vez más propietarios tienen que aceptar
Existe un factor clave para muchos inquilinos que si el propietario no acepta puede ser que su propiedad quede vacía
www.lanacion.com.ar
April 20, 2026
There is a key factor for many tenants: if the landlord does not accept, their property may remain vacant.
The increased supply of rental properties has led landlords to be less restrictive with some requirements.Shutterstock
Imagine that, after visiting different online sites , walking the city, and exploring neighborhoods in search of the best apartment to rent , you find the ideal one : good light, a strategic location, the rooms you need, and a price that fits your budget. But, just when you're about to close the deal, a crucial question arises, and the landlord says no . Everything could fall apart.
“Do you accept pets?” In a society where there are more dogs than children and the supply of apartments is increasingly broad, not giving an affirmative answer can become the trap that leaves a property empty for much longer than expected.
And this can become a problem in a rental market where the number of listings is growing : since the implementation of Decree 70/2023 on December 29, 2023, the supply in the city of Buenos Aires has increased by 176.55% , while in the last month it rose by more than 10%, according to the latest data provided by the Buenos Aires Notary Association (Cucicba). “That's why landlords who don't accept pets are at a disadvantage, and that can become a decisive factor in a property not being rented,” says Daniel Salaya Romera, director of the real estate agency of the same name.
More and more people are deciding not to move into an apartment because they don't accept their pets. Shutterstock
More pets than children
In the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) there is no longer any discussion : pets - especially dogs and cats - are an increasingly essential component of Buenos Aires households , to the point of outnumbering children up to 14 years old.According to the latest census carried out by the General Directorate of Statistics and Censuses of the City of Buenos Aires, 493,676 dogs and 368,176 cats live in Buenos Aires households , totaling 861,852 pets in CABA.
This figure contrasts sharply with the population of children aged 0 to 14 , which reaches 460,696 , revealing that pets outnumber children by 401,156. This translates to approximately 16 dogs and almost 12 cats per 100 inhabitants in the city .
A key point to note is that this upward trend in pet ownership coincides with a reverse trend in the birth rate : in 2024, 413,135 births were registered in Argentina—the latest official data— 40% fewer than in 2014 , when births exceeded 777,000, according to official figures. At the same time, the proportion of families living with pets has risen from 50% in 2014 to between 75% and 80% today.
This phenomenon is not anecdotal : it responds to cultural and demographic changes where domestic animals occupy a central role in people's lives , providing companionship, emotional well-being and a new dimension of " family members ".
More and more “
The Buenos Aires rental market is large : according to Zonaprop, there are currently almost 14,500 apartment listings in the City of Buenos Aires. Of these, only 2,900 properties have the "pets allowed" option active , representing 20% of the total number of units listed.Another key fact is that, “around 30% of landlords still don’t want animals on their properties, which drastically reduces the options for tenants with pets,” adds Salaya Romera.
But it is important to know that " this prohibition is only valid if it is expressly stated in the lease agreement or in the building's co-ownership regulations ," the broker clarifies.
Unless otherwise stated in any document, the tenant can keep their pet without legal issues. However, some building regulations prohibit animals, and tenants who violate these rules have lost lawsuits or settlements .
Unless otherwise documented, the tenant can keep their pet without legal issues.
The debate over pets goes beyond the contract : in several apartment buildings, complaints have arisen regarding safety nets on balconies and windows to protect animals. While some residents install this type of protection and reinforcement, others consider it an unauthorized modification of the building.
Do they accept pets? The contractual dilemma
Legally, a landlord can expressly prohibit pets in the lease agreement , provided that such a clause is properly established and both parties agree to it. However, consistently refusing pets can lead to longer vacancy periods and the need to adjust the price or terms to attract interested tenants.“ If a tenant wants to have a pet, they should , before signing, review both the lease agreement and the co-ownership regulations and the neighbors' code of conduct ,” advises the specialist.
For many renters with pets, the question “Do you allow pets?” is one of the first filters : if the answer is no, they immediately rule out the property. In a scenario where applicants with pets represent a growing percentage of demand, closing that door drastically reduces the chances of renting the property quickly .
“The increased supply of rental properties has brought greater opportunities for tenants, some price reductions relative to the CPI, and greater flexibility in the hiring process. On the landlord side, they need to be less restrictive with their requirements so that tenants with pets now have more options to rent,” concludes Salaya Romera.
www.buysellba.com
