The pet request every tenant can now make

The pet request every tenant can now make

Since 1 May 2026, every private assured tenant in England has a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet in their rented home. The change, introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025, removes one of the most consistent points of friction between tenants and landlords. A no-pets clause that was written into a tenancy agreement before that date does not prevent a tenant from submitting a formal request now. The right applies to existing tenancies and new ones alike.

How to make the request

The request must be made in writing and must include a description of the pet. The government's guidance indicates this could cover the type of animal, its breed, age, and size. The more specific the description, the clearer the basis your landlord has for making a decision within the timeframe the law requires.

Once a written request is received, the landlord has 28 days to respond, also in writing. That window can be extended in two circumstances. The first is where the landlord reasonably asks for more information about the pet within the original 28-day period: the final decision then becomes due seven days after the tenant provides that information. The second is where the landlord needs to seek consent from a superior landlord or freeholder before deciding: the deadline is extended to seven days after that consent is received or refused. If the landlord does not respond within the required period, consent is automatically deemed to have been granted.

What a refusal requires

The new rules do not give every tenant an automatic right to keep any animal in any property. A landlord can still refuse, but must have a genuine, specific, and documented reason. Grounds that would meet the reasonableness test include a superior lease or freeholder agreement that prohibits pets, or a property that is genuinely unsuitable for the particular animal. A general preference against pets, or a blanket policy applied without reference to the specific animal or the specific property, will not meet the standard the Act requires.

The refusal must be in writing. A consent, once given, cannot later be withdrawn. Each additional or different pet requires a fresh written request.

What landlords cannot do

A landlord cannot charge a higher rent on the basis that a tenant has a pet. Using a rent increase as a substitute for a pet charge is not permitted and has no legal effect. Landlords also cannot require tenants to take out or pay for pet damage insurance as a condition of giving consent. That provision was removed from the Act before it came into force. The standard deposit rules continue to apply, with the maximum deposit still governed by the Tenant Fees Act.

If a refusal feels unreasonable

Tenants who believe their landlord has refused without a legitimate basis have a route to challenge it. The Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman, being established under the Act, is designed to handle disputes of this kind. Court is also an available route. In either case, the original written request and the landlord's written response are the central documents in any dispute, which makes keeping copies of both essential.

The practical starting point

If you currently rent privately in England and would like to keep a pet, the process begins with a written request describing the animal. You do not need legal advice to make one, and the right to do so is yours regardless of what your current tenancy agreement says.

If you are searching for a new rental home and plan to keep a pet, raising this at the application stage rather than after signing gives both parties the opportunity to discuss it on clear terms from the outset.

Talk to our lettings team about finding a home that works for you and your pet