Right to request a pet is one of the most talked-about changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. For years, blanket “no pets” clauses in tenancy agreements were standard practice. From 2026, those clauses are no longer enforceable in the same way. Tenants now have a statutory right to request a pet, landlords must respond within a set timeframe, and refusal is only permitted on reasonable grounds.
For letting agents, this changes how you advise landlord clients, how you handle tenant requests, and what your tenancy agreements need to say. This guide covers everything you need to know.
The right to request a pet is a new statutory right introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act. It gives tenants living in privately rented homes in England the ability to formally request permission to keep a pet in their property. Crucially, the default position has shifted: a landlord cannot simply say no. Any refusal must be based on a specific, reasonable ground.
This represents a significant departure from the old regime, under which landlords could include a blanket “no pets” clause in a tenancy agreement and enforce it without justification. Under the new rules, that approach is no longer lawful for assured tenancies.
The change reflects a broader policy intention: that the private rented sector should be a genuine long-term home for tenants, not a temporary arrangement governed entirely by landlord preference.
When a tenant wishes to exercise their right to request a pet, there is a formal process that both tenant and landlord must follow. As a letting agent, you will likely be the first point of contact when a request comes in, so understanding each step is essential.
The tenant must make their request in writing. The request should describe the pet they wish to keep. There is no prescribed form, but it must be written — a verbal request does not trigger the statutory process.
Once a valid written request is received, the landlord has 42 days to respond. This is a hard deadline. If the landlord fails to respond within 42 days, the request is treated as granted by default. Letting agents managing properties on behalf of landlords need to have a process in place to ensure requests are not missed or delayed.
The landlord must either:
If a tenant believes their landlord has refused their right to request a pet without reasonable grounds, they can challenge the decision through the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman, established under the Renters’ Rights Act.
The right to request a pet does not mean every request must be granted. Landlords can still refuse, but the refusal must be reasonable. What counts as reasonable will depend on the circumstances of each property and tenancy, but typical grounds include:
Blanket refusals based purely on preference — “we don’t allow pets as a rule” — will not constitute a reasonable ground. Letting agents advising landlords should be clear about this distinction.
The right to request a pet creates several new responsibilities and workflow considerations for letting agents managing residential properties in England.
Most tenants will submit their pet request through you rather than directly to the landlord. That means you need a clear, documented process for receiving requests, logging them, forwarding them to the landlord, and tracking the 42-day response window. A missed deadline means automatic consent — which could expose you to a complaint from a landlord who did not intend to grant permission.
Landlords who are unfamiliar with the new rules may expect you to handle refusals on their behalf using the old “no pets” approach. Your job is to explain that blanket refusals are no longer lawful and to help them assess each request on its individual merits. Clear, documented advice protects you professionally if a dispute arises later.
Handling pet requests, advising on insurance products, and managing any disputes through the Ombudsman process is additional work that was not part of the traditional letting agent role. Review your management agreements and fee schedules to ensure this work is appropriately covered.
In Houses in Multiple Occupation, a pet request from one tenant has potential implications for all other occupants. Your process for handling right to request a pet applications in HMOs should include a step for assessing the impact on co-tenants and reviewing any relevant house rules.
Any tenancy agreement that contains a blanket “no pets” clause needs to be reviewed. Such clauses are not automatically void, but they cannot be used as a basis for refusing a right to request a pet application. In practice, retaining them creates confusion and potential for dispute.
Best practice for letting agents is to replace blanket “no pets” clauses with a clause that:
If you use a template provider such as Propertymark or a solicitor-drafted agreement, check whether they have updated their documents to reflect the Renters’ Rights Act. Do not assume existing templates are compliant.
LetHQ is built for letting agents and landlords, navigating a more complex compliance landscape. While the right to request a pet sits within your property management workflow, the wider Renters’ Rights Act changes — including the end of fixed term tenancies, new possession grounds, and increased Right to Rent obligations — all affect how quickly and efficiently you can turn a vacancy into a compliant new tenancy. Our platform brings together tenant referencing and Right to Rent checks in one place, helping you move faster when a tenancy ends and a new one needs to begin. In a world where tenants can leave on two months’ notice and pet-related disputes can delay re-lets, having a slick referencing process is more valuable than ever.
Get in touch with our team today to find out how LetHQ can support your agency through the Renters’ Rights Act transition.
Yes, but only on reasonable grounds. Blanket “no pets” policies are no longer lawful for assured tenancies in England. Each right to request a pet application must be considered individually and any refusal must be justifiable based on the specific property and tenancy circumstances.
If the landlord fails to respond within 42 days, the right to request a pet is treated as granted by default. It is critical that letting agents have a clear process to log, track and chase all pet requests so the deadline is never missed.
No. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps tenancy deposits at five weeks’ rent for annual rents under £50,000. Landlords cannot charge a separate pet deposit. However, they can make pet damage insurance a condition of granting consent.
The right to request a pet applies to assured tenancies, which includes most private residential lets. In HMOs, a pet request requires extra care as it may affect other occupants. Agents should assess the impact on co-tenants as part of the response process.
This is a valid reasonable ground for refusal. If the landlord is bound by a superior lease that prohibits animals, they may be unable to grant the right to request a pet regardless of their own preference. Agents should check leasehold restrictions at the point of instruction.
