Renting with Pets: A New Era for Tenants and Landlords

For many of us, pets are family. Whether it’s a wagging tail greeting you after a long day, the comforting purr on a lazy Sunday morning, or the chirps and tweets of feathered friends in their cage – our animal companions make a home feel complete. Yet for pet-loving renters, finding a home where a beloved animal is welcome has long been a source of anxiety and frustration.

That’s about to change… and it’s a change landlords, agents, and tenants all need to understand.

The Old Reality: Pets Often Not Welcome

Until recently, the UK private rented sector operated on a simple rule: landlords could include a “no pets” clause in a tenancy agreement, and tenants had little legal recourse. Landlords could refuse permission for any reason (or no stated reason at all) and tenants risked breaching their agreement if they brought a pet home without permission. In some cases, this could even trigger eviction under a “no-fault” Section 21 notice. However, this legal landscape is changing dramatically.

Introducing the Renters’ Rights Act: A Big Shake-Up

On 27 October 2025, the long-awaited Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent, representing the biggest overhaul of English private rental law in a generation. The new law will come into force on 1 May 2026, and with it comes a fundamental shift in how pets are treated in rented homes.

Previously, tenants had no statutory right to keep a pet. From May 2026, every tenant in the private rented sector (outside social housing) will have the right to request to keep a pet, and landlords must respond reasonably to requests; creating a fairer and more transparent process.

Key Changes for Pets in the Private Rented Sector

Here’s what tenants and landlords need to know about the new rules:

✔️ 1. Tenants Have a Right to Request a Pet

From 1 May 2026, tenants will be able to make a written request to keep a pet. This isn’t a re-write of your tenancy automatically; it’s an implied right that applies whether or not the tenancy agreement mentions pets.

✔️ 2. Landlords Must Consider Requests “Reasonably”

Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a pet request. They must:

• Respond in writing
• Usually within 28 days of receiving the request
• Provide clear and reasonable grounds for any refusal

If a landlord fails to respond within the timeframe, tenants can take action… potentially even to court.

✔️ 3. Blanket “No Pets” Bans are Out

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, blanket bans on pets are no longer enforceable in private tenancies. This doesn’t mean every property must welcome all animals, as landlords can still refuse on reasonable grounds, such as concerns about property suitability or health and safety; but they must engage with each request, not just dismiss them out of hand.

✔️ 4. No More Eviction Without Good Cause

The Act also abolishes Section 21 no-fault evictions, which means landlords can’t evict a tenant simply for having a pet. If there are legitimate issues, such as damage or nuisance, landlords must rely on the appropriate legal grounds and evidence to seek possession.

✔️ 5. Fees and Charges: What’s Allowed

Importantly, landlords cannot charge extra fees specifically for keeping a pet that aren’t already permitted under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Attempts to charge “pet rent” or additional deposits purely because of a pet could be unlawful and subject to penalties.

✔️ 6. Assistance Animals Are Still Protected

Assistance animals (such as guide dogs or other service animals covered by the Equality Act) have their own protections. Landlords must consider reasonable adjustments under disability rights laws, independent of the pet rules introduced in the Renters’ Rights Act.

❤️ Why This Matters

For tenants, especially younger renters or families, the inability to keep a pet has been a heartbreaking barrier. It’s one of the most emotional issues in renting today, with countless stories of dogs re-homed, cats surrendered, or tenants compromising on housing just to keep a beloved animal. The new rules help redress that imbalance, giving tenants a clearer voice and a fair process to request what means so much to them.

For landlords and agents, these changes bring responsibilities and opportunities. Pet-friendly properties tend to attract longer-term, responsible tenants, and research suggests fears of pet damage are often overplayed. Understanding and managing the new process can help landlords expand their tenant pool while protecting their assets.

🐶 Pet-Friendly Doesn’t Mean Unlimited

It’s important to be clear: the Act doesn’t give tenants an automatic right to bring any animal home. Pets still need to be appropriate for the property, and landlords can refuse on sound and reasonable grounds. The aim is fairness, not carte blanche.

🐾 Summary

When the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force in May 2026, pet-loving tenants will finally have a reason to be hopeful. The law balances the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and renters, encouraging open discussion and fair decision-making around pets in homes across England.

Whether you’re a tenant dreaming of a four-legged roommate, or a landlord wondering how to navigate these changes, one thing’s clear: pets are here to stay in the rental conversation, and with the right approach, it can be a win-win for everyone.