Tenants can now request pets: What landlords need to know

The Renters’ Rights Act has introduced significant changes for landlords, and one of the most talked-about relates to pets. While some headlines have suggested landlords can no longer refuse pets, the reality is more balanced. The new rules introduce a clearer process for considering requests rather than requiring every landlord to accept every pet.

What the pet policy actually means

From May 2026, tenants have had the right to request permission to keep a pet. Landlords must consider requests reasonably. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants can request permission to keep a pet, and landlords must consider those requests and cannot refuse them unreasonably.

Receiving a request doesn’t mean a landlord must automatically agree.

Reasonable considerations may include:

• whether the property is suitable for the type of animal
• leasehold restrictions
• potential impact on neighbouring residents
• animal welfare considerations
• practical concerns specific to the property

The key difference is that decisions should be based on genuine, evidence-based reasons rather than a blanket policy. This creates clarity, not chaos. It simply requires landlords to assess each request individually.

Advertising a property

When marketing a property, the new rules do not require every rental property to be advertised as pet friendly.

One point that often causes confusion is the difference between advertising a property and managing an existing tenancy. The Renters’ Rights Act gives tenants the right to request permission to keep a pet. Once a tenancy is in place, landlords must consider those requests fairly and cannot refuse them unreasonably

If you’re unsure how the legislation applies in practice, your letting agent can help you navigate individual requests.

For landlords: Clear process, clear protection

Many landlords are understandably concerned that the new rules remove their control over who or what lives in their property. Receiving a request doesn’t mean a landlord must automatically agree.

A tenant must make their request in writing and, to aid the landlord in making an informed decision, should include information about the pet, such as:

• the type of animal
• its size
• any relevant information about how it will be kept

This helps landlords make an informed decision. Any decision should be supported by clear reasons and recorded in writing. One of the biggest changes isn’t simply whether a pet is accepted, it’s how the decision is recorded.

Keeping clear written records of requests, responses and the reasons behind any decision provides transparency for both landlord and tenant. It also helps demonstrate that requests have been considered fairly should any disagreement arise later.

For tenants: Fair consideration

The new rules do not guarantee that every request will be approved. Instead, they ensure requests are considered on their individual merits rather than being rejected automatically under a blanket policy.

This provides greater transparency for tenants while allowing landlords to make reasonable decisions based on the circumstances of each property.

The new pet rules don’t remove a landlord’s ability to protect their property. They simply require pet requests to be considered individually merits and supported by clear reasoning.

If you’re unsure how the new legislation affects your rental property, our lettings team is here to help.