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Work-from-home deals put cats and dogs at centre of households, compelling developers to switch to pet-friendly designs

  • About half of major estates in city now allow pets, up from 40 per cent in 2018, Knight Frank says
  • Trend is part of a wider shift to remote working across the world, developers say

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Midtown Modern development in Singapore features balconies that provide spaces to house pets with natural air ventilation and a pet corner where pet owners can play with their beloved fur babies. Photo: Handout
Cheryl Arcibal
An increasing number of housing estates in Hong Kong are becoming more pet friendly in a nod to homebuyers and residents who have adopted cats and dogs during the coronavirus pandemic, developers said.
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About half of the city’s major estates now allowed pets, up from 40 per cent in 2018, according to property consultancy Knight Frank.

“As people have been staying home and in town because of travel restrictions … more developers have considered adding some pet-friendly facilities to their projects,” said Martin Wong, director and head of research and consultancy, Greater China, at Knight Frank.

The trend towards accommodating pets is part of a wider shift among property developers taking place around the world, as companies allow remote working arrangements. These arrangements are triggering a change in homebuyers’ and tenants’ preferences, according to developers. With workers adopting cats and dogs to keep them company at home, they are looking for units more suitable for their animals.
Midtown Modern development in Singapore features balconies that provide spaces to house pets with natural air ventilation and a pet corner where pet owners can play with their beloved fur babies. Photo: Handout
Midtown Modern development in Singapore features balconies that provide spaces to house pets with natural air ventilation and a pet corner where pet owners can play with their beloved fur babies. Photo: Handout

And the developers are adapting too. For instance, residents, mall goers and hotel guests are allowed to live, shop and stay with their beloved four-legged companions at Sun Hung Kai Properties’ (SHKP) Victoria Harbour, a mixed-use development in North Point.

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“SHKP is conscious of pets becoming popular with many families in Hong Kong and, as such, is trying to make its residential developments pet friendly wherever appropriate,” a spokesman said.

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