Millions of tenants across the UK are now able to keep cats and dogs following a major change in landlord-tenant law. Under new regulations that came into effect on Friday, landlords can no longer refuse requests for pets unless they have a legitimate reason. The measure, part of the Renters' Rights Act, prohibits blanket bans and requires landlords to consider each request individually.
What the New Law Means for Tenants
Landlords must respond to pet requests within 28 days in writing. If they fail to do so, tenants can apply to court, which may enforce the rules if the landlord is not meeting obligations. Previously, landlords could enforce blanket bans on all pets. Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found that while 46% of private landlords said they permit pets, only 30% of tenants had tenancy agreements allowing dogs.
Valid Reasons for Refusal
Landlords can only refuse a pet request in specific circumstances, such as the property being too small for a large animal, the freeholder not allowing pets, another tenant having an allergy, or the pet being illegal to own. Disliking pets, having had previous tenants whose pets caused damage, or concerns about future rentals are not valid reasons.
Conditions for Approval
Once a landlord agrees to a pet, they cannot change their mind later, but tenants must seek further consent for additional animals. Landlords can request information about the pet, such as type or size, and may deduct from the deposit to cover repair costs caused by pet damage. If a request is refused, the landlord must explain in writing, and the tenant can challenge the refusal through a complaint or court proceedings.
The change is one of several reforms introduced by the Labour government. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated: "If your tenant requests to keep a pet, you will not be able to refuse without a fair reason. You'll need to consider each request on a case by case basis."
