For many years, renters across the UK who were looking for a new home would regularly see a notice in the listing: No Pets Allowed. This often left animal lovers in a difficult position, forced to choose between a roof over their heads and their beloved companions.
Now, as of the 1st of May 2026, the Renters Rights Act has officially come into force, which allows current tenants the legal right to request a pet. Whilst many tenants in the past would receive a blanket no when requesting a pet without any clear justification, this new law is designed to give tenants a statutory right to request a pet, which is a significant win for households across the country.
Having rented many times in my life, it was always frustrating to see the no pets allowed rule when viewing properties. This new rule won’t simply apply to dogs and cats, as those pets are the most common in the UK. Renters looking to keep rabbits, birds, or reptiles might have been worried about trying to request keeping these animals, but now, with this new law, that has changed.
How the law works
The new law has established a formal, structured process for tenants to make pet requests to their landlord, and now can submit a written application to their landlord or letting agent. This request should include specific details about the animal, such as its breed, age, and any relevant training it has received.
Once a formal request has been made, there is a 28-day period in which your landlord will need to review the request. If they require further information about the animal to reach a fair decision, they may request an additional seven days to respond. This means that under this new legislation, silence or a simple refusal without a valid reason is no longer legally acceptable.
Defining a reasonable refusal
It’s important to remember that while this new law is great news for pet owners up and down the UK, landlords still maintain the ability to say no; however, the difference is that their decision must be based on objective facts rather than personal preference or a general dislike of animals. A refusal might be considered reasonable in the following circumstances:
- Property suitability: If the home is a small flat with no outdoor space, and you want to keep a large, high-energy dog, such as a Labrador or Great Dane.
- Superior leases: If the head lease for the entire building specifically prohibits animals, the landlord cannot be forced to breach that contract.
- Health and Safety: If other residents in a shared house or HMO have documented, severe allergies that would be affected by the presence of a pet.
Protecting the property
One of the main reasons that landlords would have a blanket no to pets in their lettings was due to the potential damage to the property. To address the concerns of property owners, the act has introduced a practical safeguard. Landlords are now legally permitted to require that tenants maintain pet insurance to cover accidental damage to the property. Alternatively, the landlord can take out their own insurance policy and pass the reasonable cost of this premium on to the renter.
Because tenancy deposits remain capped at five weeks of rent, this insurance provision ensures that landlords are protected while tenants are given the freedom to live with their pets.
Resolving disputes
If a tenant feels their request has been unfairly rejected, they have the right to challenge the decision through the newly established Private Rented Sector Ombudsman or through the courts. Crucially, as the abolition of no-fault evictions has also taken effect, tenants can challenge these decisions with much greater security than was possible in the past