The RSPCA estimates that more than half of households in England own a pet. So it is no wonder that landlords frequently receive requests from their tenants to keep a pet in their property.
The government has recognised the scale of this and introduced new laws in the Renters' Rights Act to give tenants the right to request a pet from the 01st of May 2026.
Early drafts of the legislation included some provisions for landlords to request pet insurance, but these have since been removed.
What should landlords consider when dealing with pet requests?
Before responding to a tenant's request, landlords should take the time to consider some of the following. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a good starting point.
| Type of Pet | The most common requests relate to cats and dogs, but landlords should take time to understand specifically what animal the tenants want to keep in the property and what requirements such an animal may have. |
| Property Size | Is there enough space in the property to accommodate the requested pet? For example, a Great Dane may not be suitable for a studio apartment, whereas a Goldfish may. |
| Location | The locality of the property and its access to outdoor space are key considerations. Apartments with no access to outdoor space may be key factors when making decisions. |
| Leasehold & Freehold | Landlords should check with their leaseholder or freeholder, where applicable, to ensure there are no restrictions relating to pets. |
| Breed | If the pet is a dog, landlords will need to be sure that the breed does not fall under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. |
| Assistance Animals | If an animal is assisting with a disability, then it is not a pet, and refusal would be discriminatory under the Equalities Act. |
| Character & Behavior | If the pet predates the tenancy, you may want to request a reference from the previous landlord to confirm its behaviour and whether any damage has been caused. You may also want to meet the pet before granting consent, allowing you to assess its health, behaviour around new people, and noise levels. |
| Vaccination & Flea Treatment | Requesting the animal’s vaccination and flea treatment records is a good way to confirm it is well cared for and helps ensure the property is returned flea-free. |
| Emergency & Care Provisions | Ensuring a tenant has provisions for care whilst at work or in an emergency ensures the animal will be properly looked after and not cause a nuisance. |
Can landlords refuse a tenant's request for a pet?
A landlord cannot refuse permission to keep a pet at the property unless there are reasonable reasons for doing so. The government has produced some guidance on when it may or maynot be reasonable to refuse a request. Here are some examples of when it may be reasonable to refuse:
- another tenant has an allergy
- the property is too small for a large pet or several pets
- the pet is illegal to own
- if you’re a leaseholder, and your freeholder does not allow pets
Do landlords have to accept new tenants with Pets?
The new legislation is primarily focused on existing tenants and their rights to request a pet. So there does not appear to be anything explicit in the legislation that would prevent a landlord from not accepting an application from a tenant who has a pet. However, tenants can still request a pet once they move in.
Are there good reasons for accepting pets?
We are a nation of pet lovers, so being able to live with pets can increase the appeal of a property. This can reduce void periods and increase the occupancy length, which has financial benefits. There are also some security benefits of having animals, such as keeping a dog on the property.
How should landlords respond to requests?
Once a tenant has made a request for a pet, Landlords will have 28 days to respond in writing. Landlords can request further information about the pet to help with their decision.
Landlords then have either the remainder of the original 28 days or an extra 7 days to respond with the final decision, whichever is later.
Are there any penalties for Landlords who don't comply?
In short, yes. Tenants have the right to challenge a landlord's decision or refusal to respond in court and obtain an order should they be successful. In this instance, in addition to ordering a landlord to stop refusing the request, the court would also order the losing party to pay the legal costs.
From 2028, when the private rental sector ombudsman is introduced, the ombudsman will have powers to make orders and compel landlords to pay compensation.
In reality, most reasonable landlords will already be compliant with these laws and currently consider the request for pets on a case-by-case basis.
In the past, some landlords operated blanket policies of refusing any pets regardless of the situation, possibly due to a previous experience.
This legislation is intended to ensure there is a pragmatic approach to dealing with pets that takes the needs of the animal, the property and the tenant into consideration.
--------------------------------------------------Disclaimer:This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always seek professional legal counsel for individual cases. This article is correct at the time of writing. |
