Madi, giving Juno a Piggyback. (Photo credits: Madi Burtenshaw)
Only 8% of rental properties in the UK are pet-friendly, but in Falmouth, there are currently no student houses available for students with pets on Rightmove or On The Market.
On October 27th, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 revealed new laws, stating that landlords will no longer be able to impose a blanket “no pets” policy without “reasonable consideration” of each request.
Madi Burtenshaw is a Cornish local and illustration student who lives with her black cat, Juno. She says that her current housing situation is far from ideal, living alone in a small property with black mould, broken windows, and a leaking ceiling. However, life has looked up for Madi since living with a cuddly cat who never leaves her side.
When Madi first moved into her single flat, she battled with loneliness and mental health issues. Luckily, her friend noticed that she’d been struggling and offered her one of her cat’s new kittens to keep her company.
Juno is a “tiny cat with a big personality,” who immediately illuminated Madi’s life. “The house was less quiet, and I had a reason to be home,” Madi says. “It’s really nice going home to see this little creature instead of being completely alone.”
Juno on Madi’s lap. (Photo credits: Madi Burtenshaw)
While life has drastically improved for Madi since living with Juno, the hardest part of finding a new home to rent is that very few student properties accept cats. She finds that landlords are often worried about the damage that pets could cause, but she says, “My cat is the most harmless thing on the planet. She’s not going to destroy anything.”
With new rental laws in place, Madi hopes that in the future, there will be more pet-friendly properties available in Falmouth, so that students and locals with life-changing pets like Juno will have safe and comfortable living options.