Can I keep a pet in a rented home?
In England, from 1 May 2026 you have a statutory right to request a pet, and the landlord can't unreasonably refuse. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (now in force), an old blanket "no pets" clause is overridden. You make a written request identifying the specific pet; the landlord must consent unless refusal is reasonable, and must reply in writing by the 28th day (they can ask for more information or seek a superior landlord's consent, which pauses the clock). The landlord can make consent conditional on you holding pet damage insurance (or paying their reasonable cost of it) — but there's no lawful "pet deposit" or "pet rent," and the deposit cap is unchanged. Reasonable refusals include a head lease that bans pets, or a property genuinely unsuitable. In short: yes, you can request, and refusal must be reasonable.
📋 The rules
- Right to request a pet (England, from 1 May 2026)
- Landlord can't unreasonably refuse; reply within 28 days
- Consent can require pet damage insurance
- No lawful 'pet deposit' or 'pet rent'; deposit cap unchanged
- Blanket 'no pets' clause is overridden
🔓 Exceptions
- A head lease/freeholder banning pets makes refusal reasonable
- Assistance dogs are not 'pets' — refusing one is disability discrimination
- Wales and Scotland have their own, different rules
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no "fine" on the tenant — these are your rights. The landlord must respond within 28 days (extendable for reasonable information requests or to get a superior landlord's consent), and a refusal must state reasons. On money: there's no fixed insurance figure — you pay the actual premium or the landlord's reasonable cost, which can't be a hidden profit fee; the deposit cap stays at 5 weeks' rent (6 if rent is £50,000+), and charging an unlawful pet deposit or pet rent is a prohibited payment, enforced by the council with a financial penalty up to £5,000 (up to £30,000 for repeat breaches). Beware two myths: "a landlord can charge a bigger deposit or extra pet rent" is false — only pet damage insurance (or its reasonable cost) is permitted; and "a no-pets clause is always enforceable" is false from 1 May 2026. If refused unreasonably: complain to the Ombudsman or escalate. (Scotland and Wales differ.)
📎 Official sources
- GOV.UK — Guide to the Renters' Rights Act →
- Renters' Rights Act 2025 — s.11 (pets) →
- Commons Library — can my landlord prevent a pet? →
❓ Frequently asked
Can my landlord stop me keeping a pet?
From 1 May 2026 in England, not unreasonably. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives tenants a right to request a pet, and the landlord can't unreasonably refuse. A blanket 'no pets' clause in the tenancy is overridden. You make a written request, and the landlord must respond, with reasons for any refusal, within 28 days.
How do I request a pet?
You make a written request to your landlord identifying the specific pet you want to keep, either at the start of or during the tenancy. The landlord must consent unless they have a reasonable ground to refuse, and must reply in writing by the 28th day. They can ask for more information, which pauses that deadline.
Can the landlord charge extra for a pet?
Not in the form of a pet deposit or 'pet rent' — those are prohibited, and the deposit cap of 5 or 6 weeks' rent still applies. The landlord can, however, make consent conditional on you holding pet damage insurance, or on you paying their reasonable cost of arranging it, but that must not be a disguised profit fee.
When can a landlord reasonably refuse?
Reasonable grounds include a head lease or freeholder that prohibits pets, so the landlord can't grant what their own lease forbids; a property genuinely unsuitable for the animal; or evidence that the specific pet would cause serious damage or nuisance. Each request is judged on its own facts, and a refusal must be explained in writing.
What about assistance dogs?
Assistance dogs are not treated as ordinary pets. Refusing a disabled tenant's assistance dog is disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, which is separate from, and stronger than, the pet-request process. A landlord generally cannot refuse an assistance dog, and shouldn't require it to go through the standard pet-request route.
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