Can I refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet?

The current Government, and its predecessor, has been set on making it easier to keep pets in rented properties. After years of debate, the Renters’ Rights Act will crystalise the law’s stance on the matter – landlords can’t unreasonably refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet in a rented property.

1st May 2026: a hard deadline for landlords

The change comes into effect on 1st May 2026 and landlords will need to pivot their approach to pets overnight. Let’s look at the wording to establish whether a landlord can ever say no to a request to keep a pet.

‘Landlords can’t unreasonably refuse’ – that actually means there are some grounds when a landlord can hold firm and say ‘no, a pet is not allowed.’ What the new law actually says is a landlord must consider all pet requests submitted by tenants, on a case-by-case basis, and then give a written reason why they feel their property isn’t suitable for a pet.

Landlords can refuse a pet request…within reason

The reasons to refuse a pet is a contentious matter. The Government has published this list of when it ‘may be reasonable to refuse a request in some circumstances’. The word ‘may’ indicates this is not a hard and fast, defined list and other reasons may be acceptable:

• Another tenant has an allergy: this may be applicable in a house of multiple occupation (HMO)  

• The property is too small for a large pet or several pets: this may apply if a tenant wants to move in three Irish wolfhounds into a studio apartment 

• The pet is illegal to own: the breed appears on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 list of banned breeds, such as an XL Bully

• If you’re a leaseholder and your freeholder does not allow pets: this can apply if the landlord owns a leasehold flat within a larger block owned by a freeholder  

Is this list of reasons final?

We won’t know whether landlords will be limited to the above reasons to refuse a pet for some time. When new laws are introduced, it often takes several challenges in court for the full picture to emerge. 

In the case of pets in lets after 1st May 2026, a tenant will gain the right to challenge a pet refusal if they feel the landlord is being unreasonable. We will be in a better position to advise landlords once we know how a judge rules on what reasonable reasons to refuse are and what challenges are upheld.

Think beyond dogs and cats, think chinchillas too

It’s worth noting that the Government hasn’t defined what a pet is either. While one may immediately think of a cat or a dog, we are to assume all domestic animals fall into the pet category. 

This includes small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. When caged, they cause little problem but if given the run of the house, they can chew through cables, gnaw at woodwork and soil carpets. Whether it will be unreasonable to refuse a tenant’s request to keep a hamster remains to be seen, although the tenant should seek permission to keep one.

Pets in Wales and Scotland

Unlike in England, where the request to keep a pet will be mandatory from 1st May 2026, there is no legislation in Wales that stipulates tenants have the legal right to request to keep a pet. A pet request clause can be added to Welsh tenancy agreements but this is optional. Welsh landlords can also use ‘no pets’ wording when advertising a property, and they can request an additional or separate deposit to cover potential pet-related damages.

The Scottish Government is treading a similar path to that of England. Its pets in lets legislation contained within The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 will hand tenants the right to request a pet, subject to criteria. It has just been announced that regulations will be prepared from 1st April 2026.

Be fully prepared for pets in lets by contacting our lettings team. We know the letter of the law where your buy-to-lets are located, and can manage any pet requests from your tenants moving forwards.