Pet Policies Under the New Renters' Rights Bill

The government has made it clear: blanket "no pets" policies will no longer be acceptable. But landlords still have protections—if they handle requests correctly.

What the Law Says

Tenants will have the right to request permission to keep a pet. Landlords must respond within 28 days and can only refuse on reasonable grounds.

Reasonable Grounds for Refusal

You CAN refuse if:

• The property is too small for the animal (e.g., large dog in studio flat)
• Lease/freeholder restrictions prohibit pets
• The tenant has a history of pet-related property damage
• The specific animal poses genuine safety concerns
• Stacking issues (multiple pets in an HMO)

You CANNOT refuse simply because:

• You "don't like pets"
• There "might" be damage
• Previous tenant's pet caused issues

Protecting Your Property

Pet Damage Insurance: You can require tenants to obtain pet damage insurance as a condition of approval. Typical policies cost £10-20/month and cover up to £1,000 in damage.

Enhanced Inspections: Consider more frequent mid-tenancy inspections (with proper notice) for properties with pets.

Pet Agreements: Create a pet addendum specifying:

• Type, breed, and number of pets approved
• Flea treatment requirements
• Garden maintenance responsibilities
• Noise/nuisance expectations

Sample Response Template

We've created compliant response templates for both approving and refusing pet requests. Available in your Roost dashboard under Legal Documents.