Can landlords refuse pets in a rented property?

In England, the answer is now yes. The introduction of the Renters' Rights Act meant blanket "no pets allowed" clauses in tenancy agreements have been illegal since 1 May 2026. 

Landlords must seriously consider any written request for a pet and can only say no if they have a legitimate reason, such as the freeholder doesn’t permit pets in the property.

The Renters’ Rights Act aims to deliver safer, fairer and higher quality homes for tenants. It included new rules for ‘pets in lets’, making it easier for you to find a place to live by increasing the number of pet-friendly homes and includes some good news for pet owners.

• Landlords are no longer be able to issue a blanket ban on tenants living with animals. Under the new rules, tenants have the right to ask the landlord for permission to live with pets at the property.

• The landlord must consider your request to live with pets and cannot “unreasonably” refuse. If they do say ‘no’, you can challenge their decision

• A landlord must reply to your request within 28 days in writing. This can be extended by a week if a landlord asks for further information. 

The Renters’ Rights Act became law on 27 October 2025, and the new rules around pets in rented properties have applied since 1 May 2026. 

Visit GOV.UK to read more in the Guide to the Renters’ Rights ActOpens in a new window

Sometimes it’s reasonable for a landlord to refuse a request to keep a pet at their property, such as when:

• another tenant has an allergy   

• the property is too small for a large pet or several pets   

• the pet is illegal to own   

• you’re renting a leasehold property, and the freeholder does not allow pets. 

But it’s not reasonable to refuse pets because:  

• they dislike animals  

• concerns about potential damage  

• they’ve have had problems with pets in past tenancies   

• they’re worried about future rental.

So what is your next step if your landlord doesn’t allow you to have a pet, and you don’t think the reason behind the decision is fair?

If you feel that your landlord has unreasonably refused your request, you can contact the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman or take the case to court.

The Ombudsman or court will make the final decision based on the evidence provided by you and your landlord.

Finding a home for you and your pets means looking in the right places. Many of us search for a property online and websites allow visitors to filter search results by “pets allowed”.

If you find a place you like, you should speak to the landlord or letting agent. If you’re a responsible pet owner and are looking for a home or are already living at the property and want to own a pet, you should put any request in writing.

Getting the go ahead to keep a pet in the home you rent is exciting, but there are some things you should do to make sure you keep as much of your deposit as possible.

It’s important to clean up after your pet, and do what you can to keep your pet quiet when your neighbours are sleeping.

Your landlord can’t ask you to take out extra insurance as a condition of keeping a pet.

But if your pet does damage the property, it’s best to tell your landlord and arrange a repair before you move out of the property to avoid expensive deposit charges at the end of the tenancy.

You need your landlord’s permission to live with pets in a rented home, and you must put your request in writing. It’s always helpful to make all contact with your landlord via email or letter, so you have a record of what’s been said.

Once you’ve made a request, your landlord has 28 days to respond in writing. They may ask for more information during this time. Once you’ve given them the details they need, they have either the remainder of the original 28 days or an extra 7 days to give you their final decision, whichever comes later.  

With more than half of us in the UK owning pets, your landlord might be an animal lover and understand how important your pet is to you. It’s worth asking them to see if you can reach an agreement.