Pet-friendly rentals
in Oadby

What living in Oadby is like

Oadby is a suburban settlement immediately south-east of Leicester, in the Borough of Oadby and Wigston. Its everyday life centres on The Parade, the A6 and Harborough Road, local parks and open spaces, and bus routes into Leicester and nearby places.

For renters with pets, the address matters more than the town name alone. A flat near The Parade may suit someone who wants shops, cafés and services close by. A house farther from the centre may make it easier to create a quieter routine, particularly with a dog that is nervous around traffic or busy pavements.

The Parade is Oadby’s main commercial area. It has shops, food outlets and local services, with public car parks at East Street and the West Car Park on Sandhurst Street. The A6 corridor adds larger supermarkets and important road connections. Asda Oadby Superstore is on Leicester Road in the Oadby and Frith area and has an in-store café.

The University of Leicester’s Oadby campus, student accommodation and associated facilities are also established features of the area. When viewing a property near the campus, consider the sort of activity you are comfortable with and visit at a time when you would normally be walking or travelling with your pet.

Areas to include in your search

Oadby’s ward names give you useful search terms: Oadby Brocks Hill, Oadby Grange, Oadby St Peter’s, Oadby Uplands and Oadby Woodlands. These are electoral wards, not necessarily the names used in every property advert, so use them as starting points rather than assuming they describe a particular estate.

You can also search around Oadby town centre and The Parade, the A6 and Harborough Road corridor, Oadby University Student Village, Brocks Hill Country Park and the area around the Botanic Garden on Glebe Road. A listing’s map remains important. A property described as being near a named area may still be a considerable walk from the park, bus stop or shops you have in mind.

Homes around The Parade can put everyday errands close at hand, but you should expect more activity from buses, deliveries, parking and traffic than on a quieter residential street. Properties near the A6 may be useful for bus travel and supermarkets, but inspect the crossing points and listen for road noise during a viewing.

For a dog, walk the likely route from the front door to the nearest suitable green space. Check the pavements, crossings and traffic, rather than relying only on the distance shown online. For a cat or small pet, look at traffic levels, windows, balconies and the possibility of creating a secure indoor space.

Shopping, supermarkets and vets

The Parade is the clearest place to start for smaller errands. Its businesses include independent and specialist shops, cafés, restaurants and local services. That may suit renters who prefer to walk into a centre rather than drive for every purchase.

The A6 supermarket corridor is another important part of Oadby’s shopping pattern. Arriva services stop at or opposite Lidl and ASDA, so these locations are served by bus as well as being accessible by car. Check the route from the exact property: being near the A6 does not necessarily mean that the walk is direct or easy to cross.

Oadby and the wider borough also have independent and specialist businesses covering areas such as food, jewellery and home interiors. Rainforest Reptiles is a specialist reptile retailer in the wider Oadby and Wigston area. It should not be treated as a general shop for dog and cat food, accessories or medication, so check what you can buy locally before moving.

Vet options include Oadby Vets for Pets at 186 Oadby Road, Wigston, LE18 3PW. The practice lists routine care, separate cat and dog waiting areas, small-mammal care, imaging and out-of-hours information. Medivet Oadby is another Oadby practice, while Vets4u is in the Oadby Industrial Estate area. Check opening arrangements and registration details before you need an appointment.

Getting around Oadby

Arriva services 31, 31A and X31 link Leicester with Oadby and include stops such as Oadby Centre, Beauchamp College, ASDA and Derwent Walk. Haymarket Bus Station is the main Leicester interchange used for these services. Timetables and routes can change, so check the current information for the address and travel time you need.

The A6, also known as Harborough Road, is the main north–south road through or alongside Oadby. Washbrook Lane and Brabazon Road are among the other local connections linking Oadby with Leicester and surrounding districts. These roads may help with commuting, but homes beside busy routes deserve a careful check for traffic noise and the effect on pets that are unsettled by passing vehicles.

Oadby does not have a railway station. Leicester and South Wigston are the nearest stations serving the wider Oadby and Wigston area. South Wigston is on the Birmingham–Peterborough line and has a ticket machine, help points and seated waiting facilities. There is no taxi rank at the station, so onward taxi travel needs to be arranged in advance.

Parking can affect the practical cost and convenience of a rental. Town-centre car parks include East Street and West Car Park on Sandhurst Street, and some streets have permit controls. Ask whether the property has private parking, whether a permit is required and where visitors, dog walkers or pet sitters can leave a car.

Parks and green spaces for pet owners

Oadby has several named parks and open spaces, but the available facilities do not automatically confirm that dogs may be off lead. Coombe Park has three football pitches, a play area and pavilion. Ellis Park has a play area, basketball hoop, tennis courts and bowls facilities. Uplands Park has football pitches, cricket squares, play areas, basketball hoops and a pavilion.

Other listed open spaces include Florence Wragg Way, Foxhollow, Illife Park, London Road and The Morwoods, and Rosemead Park. Their facilities differ, so check the signs at the entrance and any site-specific rules before exercising a dog there.

Brocks Hill Country Park is one of the larger green spaces in the borough. It may be useful when comparing homes on the Brocks Hill side of Oadby, but the best walking option will depend on the exact street and the route to the park. A short route beside a busy road may not suit every dog.

The University of Leicester Botanic Garden is on Glebe Road, opposite Leicester Racecourse. Its 16 acres include formal planting, an arboretum, woodland, water gardens and glasshouses. Only assistance dogs are permitted, so it is not a general dog-walking destination.

At a viewing, inspect gates, fences and any outdoor area carefully. Check whether a garden is genuinely secure, where muddy paws can be cleaned, and whether there is enough storage for food, bedding and equipment. If you have a cat, look at windows, balconies and traffic around the property.

Preparing to rent with a pet

Ask the landlord or managing agent directly whether dogs, cats or other pets are allowed. Get the answer in writing before paying a holding deposit or making plans around the property. Also ask about the number of pets, size or breed limits, visiting animals and any restrictions on outdoor access.

When introducing your pet, give the useful details clearly: species, age, size, number of animals, temperament and whether they are house-trained. A previous landlord’s reference can help if you have one. If your pet takes regular medication, find out where you would register and how out-of-hours care works before moving.

At the viewing, check the garden, gates, balconies, flooring, storage and nearby roads. Ask whether the tenancy includes any cleaning requirement, insurance arrangement or clause covering damage. Do not assume that “pets considered” means every animal will be accepted.

Noise and traffic deserve particular attention around the A6, The Parade, schools, sports grounds and bus corridors. Visit with the windows open if possible, and consider the times when your pet will be alone. Parking also matters if a vet, sitter, dog walker or family member may need to visit.

Use alerts and widen the search

Set a Paw Keys alert for Oadby using the pet details that are important to you. Include the number of bedrooms, an enclosed outdoor area or permission for more than one pet if those points are essential. Keeping the first search practical rather than overly narrow can help you compare the details of each property when it appears.

Use the ward names as well as broader searches for The Parade, Uplands, Woodlands, Brocks Hill and Grange. Compare each result by its map, bus stop, parking arrangements and walking route to suitable green space.

If you are willing to look beyond Oadby, nearby searches include Wigston, South Wigston, Knighton, South Knighton, Leicester city centre, Great Glen, Thurnby and Evington. Wigston has a broader concentration of shops and services than Oadby. South Wigston has its own district centre and railway station. Knighton and South Knighton sit on the approach between Leicester and Oadby, while Great Glen lies farther along the south-east Leicester bus corridor. Leicester city centre may suit renters who prioritise central services and transport links.

For Oadby landlords and agents

If you accept pets, make the terms clear in the advert. State which animals are considered, whether there are limits on size or number, and whether the property has a secure garden or private parking. Clear information helps renters decide whether a viewing is worthwhile.

It is also useful to describe practical features honestly, such as flooring, outdoor space and storage. Specific details are more helpful than simply writing “pets considered”, particularly for renters comparing homes for dogs, cats or small animals.