Pet owners squeezed as Calgary rentals remain scarce, with only 10 per cent of affordable units allowing animals
About 53 per cent of Calgary households have pets, but landlords cite damage and liability concerns, leaving renters with limited options.
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Finding a pet-friendly rental in Calgary means competing for a fraction of the city's already limited affordable housing. About 53 per cent of Calgary households have pets, but only about 10 per cent of rental listings priced at $1,600 or less allowed pets in a May 20 snapshot, according to the City of Calgary.
More than 60 per cent of renters reported being denied housing because of a pet, according to research conducted by the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business in fall 2025. That leaves pet owners searching through a smaller pool of rentals, with some facing the choice between finding a pet-friendly home or giving up their animal. The Calgary Humane Society reports that more than 500 animals are abandoned or surrendered annually because of housing insecurity, according to the City.
Landlords weigh risks differently. Tim Mangat, a Calgary landlord, accepts animals in his rental properties but has experienced costly damage — a dog destroyed a sofa worth about $2,500 in one rental. Cats concern him because of potential odour issues on carpets. He said about 80 per cent of the applicants he receives have some type of pet, usually a dog or cat, partly because he advertises his properties as pet-friendly. Mangat now limits the number of pets allowed to three and sometimes charges a pet fee depending on market conditions. But he does not see the fee as protection against damage: "The tenant is ultimately responsible for all damages."
Instead, Mangat uses a pet application that sets expectations for tenants and allows him to address problems if an animal becomes excessively loud or interferes with other tenants. Research conducted by the Haskayne School of Business in partnership with the Calgary Humane Society found most landlords are not opposed to pets themselves, but are concerned about risks including property damage, noise and liability.
In response, the City has partnered with the Calgary Humane Society on a Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative focused on practical tools, education and collaboration between landlords and tenants. The goal is to help them establish clear expectations and reduce the risks associated with having pets in rental housing. The City will also introduce criteria in its non-market housing grant programs that recognize pet-inclusive housing.
How many pet surrenders at the Calgary Humane Society are directly tied to housing insecurity rather than other causes?
Will the City's Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative lead to measurable changes in the percentage of pet-friendly rentals?
What specific criteria will the City introduce in its non-market housing grant programs to encourage pet-inclusive housing?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What percentage of Calgary households have pets?
About 53 per cent of Calgary households have pets.
How many affordable rental units in Calgary allow pets?
Only about 10 per cent of rental listings priced at $1,600 or less allowed pets, according to a May 20 snapshot taken by the City of Calgary.
How many animals does the Calgary Humane Society report are abandoned or surrendered annually due to housing insecurity?
More than 500 animals are abandoned or surrendered annually because of housing insecurity, according to the Calgary Humane Society.
What is the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative?
The City of Calgary has partnered with the Calgary Humane Society on the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, which focuses on practical tools, education, and collaboration between landlords and tenants to establish clear expectations and reduce risks associated with pets in rental housing.
