June 11, 2026
On 1 May 2026, the new Renters Rights Act came into effect, giving private tenants in England a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet. Blanket “no pets” policies are no longer legally enforceable.
What the law now requires
Tenants can request a pet at any point during their tenancy. It needs to be in writing and include a description of the animal, that’s it. From there:
- The landlord has 28 days to respond in writing
- If they don’t respond, that silence can count as consent
- If they refuse, they must give a specific reason
When can a landlord still say no?
They can refuse, but they need a valid reason for doing so. Valid grounds include:
- The building’s lease prohibits pets (common in leasehold flats)
- The property is not suitable, for example a large dog in a small flat with no garden, for example
- A resident in the building has severe allergies
- The property cannot be insured with a pet on the premises
Can they charge more?
No. No pet deposit, no one-off fee, no rent increase. The one thing they can ask for is pet damage insurance before giving consent – this is permitted under the Renters Rights Act. If a pet causes damage, the landlord can recover the cost of putting right the damage from the deposit, or insurance.
What if the refusal isn’t fair?
Tenants can go to a property tribunal, which can overrule the landlord and order them to allow the pet. Court action is also an option, and a winning tenant can recover their legal costs. For example, it is discriminatory to refuse to allow a “service” pet, e.g., a guide dog.
Don’t skip the process
Bringing a pet in without asking first puts you in breach of your tenancy agreement. That hands the landlord grounds to start eviction proceedings. Always put the request in writing and wait for a response before the pet moves in.
Speak to a solicitor
If your landlord has refused a pet request and you think the reason doesn’t hold up, or if you’re a landlord unsure how to handle a request, we can help. Get in touch with our team for some straightforward advice.