Renting With Pets: Can My Landlord Say No?

Since 1 May 2026, a tenant in England can request to keep a pet, and the landlord must respond in writing within 28 days and cannot unreasonably refuse. Blanket "no pets" bans no longer apply.

Information last verified on 18 July 2026. This page is general legal information, not legal advice.

Jurisdiction scope: The statutory right to request a pet described on this page comes from the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and applies to private tenancies in England only. See the per-nation notes below for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The right to request a pet in England

Since 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives a private tenant in England the right to ask their landlord for permission to keep a pet. The landlord cannot simply refuse, and cannot rely on a blanket "no pets" clause in the tenancy agreement to say no automatically. The landlord must consider the request and cannot unreasonably refuse it. This replaces the position before 1 May 2026, when a tenancy agreement could ban pets outright and a landlord had no duty to consider a request at all.

The landlord must respond within 28 days

Once a tenant makes a request to keep a pet, the landlord has 28 days to respond in writing. The request itself must be in writing and describe the pet.

The 28 days can be extended. If the landlord reasonably asks for more information within the 28 days, they have until 7 days after the tenant provides it, and if the tenant does not provide it the landlord does not have to decide. If a superior landlord's consent is needed and the landlord asks for it within the 28 days, the deadline becomes 7 days after the superior landlord answers. Landlord and tenant can also agree a later date.

If the landlord does not reply within that window, or replies without good reason for refusing, that can itself support an argument that consent has been unreasonably withheld. Keeping the request and any response in writing, such as by letter or email, gives both sides a clear record of what was asked and when the 28 days started.

What counts as "unreasonably" refusing

The law does not hand a landlord a free veto, but it does not force them to accept every pet either. A refusal is more likely to be reasonable where the landlord themselves rents from a superior landlord or under a head lease that itself bans pets, since they cannot grant a permission they do not have. A refusal may also be reasonable where the property is genuinely unsuitable for the specific pet requested, for example a large dog in a small flat with no outside access or shared communal areas with safety concerns. A blanket objection to pets in general, or a refusal with no stated reason, is unlikely to hold up.

Pet damage insurance

A landlord cannot make pet insurance a condition of agreeing to a pet. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 as passed contains no insurance requirement, and the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bars a landlord in England from requiring a tenant to take out a contract of insurance with a third party.

A landlord also cannot charge you for insurance they arrange themselves, because insurance is not one of the payments the Tenant Fees Act 2019 permits. Pet damage can be paid for from your normal tenancy deposit, and a tenant can choose to take out their own pet insurance.

How to make a pet request

There is no single prescribed form, but a tenant should put the request in writing to the landlord or letting agent, describing the pet (species, breed if relevant, and size). The law requires the request to be in writing and to include a description of the pet. Keeping a copy and noting the date sent starts the 28-day clock and gives a clear record if the request is later refused or ignored.

If the landlord refuses or does not respond

A tenant who believes a refusal is unreasonable, or who gets no response within 28 days, can raise this with the landlord in writing and point to the statutory right to request a pet. Guidance from Citizens Advice or Shelter can help assess whether a specific refusal looks reasonable. If a complaint does not resolve it, the tenant can bring county court proceedings for breach of the implied term the Act puts into the tenancy, and the court can order the landlord to comply with it (specific performance). The Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman, covered in the Renters' Rights Act guide, is a separate free redress route once it is running.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: no pet-request right in force

The pet-request right described above comes from the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and only applies to private tenancies in England. Wales and Northern Ireland have not introduced an equivalent statutory right. Scotland has passed one: the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 gives private and social tenants a right to keep a pet with the landlord's consent, which cannot be unreasonably refused. As of September 2026 only the powers for Scottish Ministers to consult and make regulations are in force, not the tenant's right itself.

For now, whether a tenant can keep a pet in those nations depends entirely on what the occupation contract, Private Residential Tenancy or private tenancy agreement actually says. A landlord in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland can still include a blanket "no pets" clause and lawfully refuse a pet on that basis, unless the specific agreement says otherwise. A tenant moving into a new tenancy in any of these three nations who wants to keep a pet should check the written agreement, or negotiate a pet clause before signing, rather than assume the England right applies. See the tenancy types guide for how each nation's tenancy agreement is structured.

This page is general legal information about renting with pets in England, verified on 18 July 2026. It is not legal advice. For help with a specific tenancy, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a solicitor. See the Renters' Rights Act guide and tenancy types guide for related detail, the UK tenant rights hub for the full four-nation picture, and the United Kingdom law hub for other UK legal topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my landlord say no pets in England?

Not through a blanket ban. Since 1 May 2026, a landlord in England cannot rely on a blanket 'no pets' clause and must consider an individual request, responding in writing within 28 days and not unreasonably refusing it.

How do I ask my landlord if I can get a pet?

Put the request in writing to your landlord or letting agent, describing the pet. Keep a copy and note the date, since this starts the landlord's 28-day response window.

How long does my landlord have to respond to a pet request?

28 days from the date of the request, unless the deadline is extended: the landlord gets until 7 days after you answer a reasonable request for more information, or 7 days after a superior landlord replies, or a later date you both agree. A landlord who does not respond in that time, or who refuses without good reason, may be treated as having unreasonably withheld consent.

Can my landlord charge me for pet insurance?

No. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 as passed does not let a landlord make pet insurance a condition of consent, and the Tenant Fees Act 2019 does not allow a landlord to require you to buy insurance or to charge you for it. Pet damage can be deducted from your normal tenancy deposit, and you can choose to take out your own pet insurance.

What is a reasonable reason to refuse a pet?

Examples include the landlord themselves being bound by a superior landlord's or head lease's ban they cannot override, or the property being genuinely unsuitable for the specific pet, such as a large dog in a small flat with no suitable outside space.

What can I do if my landlord unreasonably refuses my pet request?

Raise the refusal in writing and seek advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice. If that does not resolve it, you can bring county court proceedings for breach of the implied term, and the court can order the landlord to comply.

Does the right to request a pet apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. This is an England-only right under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Scotland has passed its own pet right in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, but it is not yet in force. For now, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, whether you can keep a pet depends on your tenancy agreement, and a blanket 'no pets' clause can still apply.

Does my landlord have to accept any pet I ask for?

No. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse, but a refusal can be reasonable in some circumstances, such as an unsuitable property or a superior landlord's own ban. The right is to have the request properly considered, not an automatic yes.