With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into effect in May 2026, new legislation means that landlords will have to consider all requests for pets, and are unable to unreasonably deny such requests. 

How it works 

Tenants will need to request a pet in writing. This will need to include a detailed description of the pet. 

Landlords then have 28 days to respond to the request. If a landlord does not respond, the tenant can apply to the court who may enforce a decision in the landlord's absence. 

Landlords can also request more information such as breed, size and so on, and have 7 days to respond to the tenant after they have provided further details. 

Landlords will then need to provide a written statement accepting or declining the request.

If you’re a leaseholder, you may need to seek permission from the freeholder. 

Can I reverse my decision? 

Once you have accepted a pet into a tenancy, then you are not able to reverse your decision. If your tenants would like another pet, they will have to go through the process again. 

When can I refuse pets? 

The Government states that it may be reasonable to refuse a pet in circumstances such as;

• another tenant has an allergy 
• the property is too small for a large pet or several pets 
• the pet is illegal to own 
• if you’re a leaseholder, and your freeholder does not allow pets 

What is an unreasonable reason? 

Unreasonable reasons to reject a pet are stated by the Government as if you;

• do not like pets   
• have had issues with tenants who had pets in the past  
• have had previous tenants with pets who damaged the property  
• have general concerns about potential damage in the future  
• think a pet might affect future rentals  
• know the tenant needs an assistance animal, such as a guide dog 

What if the tenants don’t ask permission and move in with a pet or move a pet in mid-tenancy? 

If the tenant keeps a pet without your permission, they could be breaking the terms of their tenancy agreement. In this case, you may be able to apply to the courts to seek possession or request the tenant remove the pet.  

What can Landlords do to protect against damages?

Landlords and tenants have options to get pet insurance however, it can not be made a requirement, and is only an option. Landlords will also be able to claim against the tenants deposit for pet damage.

How do Ultralets mitigate pet damage?
Ultralets clients receive routine photographic inspections that actively look for pet damage, amongst the usual other areas of issue. We’re also already putting in place plans for Landlords and Tenants to have access to insurance offerings, so everyone involved is covered in the event of damage caused by pets. More to follow on this one. 

The team at Ultralets are here to take the burden of property management and new legislation from you. Give our Client Manager, Jake a call today on 01482 562 562 or email jake.astill@ultralets.co.uk.