LETS WITH PETS
Tenants will now have a legal right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords will be obligated to consider the request reasonably.
This marks a significant departure from previous norms, where blanket bans on pets were common and often included by default in tenancy agreements.
Under the new rules, landlords can no longer refuse pet requests without a valid property-related reason, such as leasehold restrictions or health and safety concerns. Personal preference or inconvenience will not be sufficient grounds for refusal.
The Renters Rights Bill ensures a more balanced approach to pet ownership in rented homes, promoting greater tenant security, transparency, and lifestyle flexibility. While landlords are not forced to accept all pets, refusals must be justified in writing and based on specific issues related to the property’s condition, suitability, or legal restrictions.
In return, landlords may require tenants to take out pet damage insurance, ensuring protection against potential wear and tear beyond the scope of the standard deposit. However, this insurance must be reasonable and proportionate, and cannot be used as a loophole to impose extra upfront costs or deposits.
Going forward, tenancy agreements must be updated to include clear clauses addressing pet ownership, outlining expectations for cleanliness, damage liability, and maintenance. Letting processes will need to factor in a new layer of communication and decision-making around pet approvals.
This change also presents an opportunity: pet-friendly properties are in high demand, particularly among long-term renters. Accepting pets can broaden your applicant pool, increase tenant satisfaction, and reduce void periods, provided it’s managed with the right protections in place.
We work with landlords to revise tenancy terms, assess pet requests, and implement appropriate safeguards, ensuring your property is both compliant and protected.
In Summary:
- Tenants now have the right to request pets, and you must consider reasonably.
- Refusals must be based on property-related grounds -not personal views.
- You may require pet damage insurance, but not extra deposits or rent in advance.
- All tenancy agreements must include updated pet clauses.
- This reform supports greater tenant security and fairness in pet ownership.
- Pet-friendly homes are increasingly sought after - this can reduce your void period.
- We can help review requests and structure tenancy terms to safeguard your investment.
Renters Rights Ready is a dedicated lettings consultancy helping landlords and agents navigate the ever-evolving landscape of UK lettings legislation.
With over a decade of hands-on experience across both independent and corporate lettings agencies, we specialise in the practical side of compliance, from reissuing tenancy agreements and drafting Section 13 notices, to delivering full audits of property portfolios.
We work with landlords and agents of all sizes, from individual owners to multi-property investors, independent offices to multi-branch corporates, offering clear, tailored guidance that’s grounded in real-world lettings operations, not legal theory.
Our mission is simple:
To keep landlords and agents compliant, confident, and focused on what they do best, while we handle the paperwork.
We've got the admin covered. Make sure you're Renters Rights Ready.