If you let residential property in England, you need to prepare for a major change coming on 1 May 2026: tenants will have a legal right to request permission to keep a pet. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (c. 26) introduces a formal pet consent process that every landlord must follow. Getting it wrong could mean you lose control of the decision entirely.
The Right to Request a Pet
Under the RRA, tenants can make a written request to keep a pet at the property. This is not a right to keep a pet automatically — it is a right to ask, and a right to have that request considered fairly. The request must be in writing, and it should specify the type, breed, and number of animals the tenant wants to keep. As a landlord, you are legally required to engage with this process. You cannot simply ignore it.
The 28-Day Rule
Once you receive a pet request, you have 28 calendar days to respond in writing. Your response must either grant consent (with or without conditions), or refuse consent with clear reasons. This deadline is strict and the consequences of missing it are significant. If you fail to respond within the applicable period, the tenant can complain to you or challenge an unreasonable refusal in court. The court can order specific performance, effectively requiring you to allow the pet. Extensions to the 28-day period are available where you need further information about the pet or need to obtain consent from a superior landlord. Even so, missing the deadline puts you on the back foot — the tenant gains a clear legal route to override your silence, and the court is unlikely to look favourably on a landlord who simply ignored the request.
You Cannot Unreasonably Refuse
The Act makes clear that you cannot unreasonably refuse a pet request. This does not mean you must say yes to everything, but it does mean you need a genuine, property-related reason if you say no. The legislation is designed to stop blanket "no pets" policies that have historically locked tenants out of pet ownership regardless of their circumstances or the suitability of the property. Each request must be considered on its own merits.
What Counts as a Reasonable Refusal?
There is no exhaustive list in the Act, but the following are likely to be considered reasonable grounds for refusal:
- The property is genuinely unsuitable for the animal requested — for example, a large dog in a small studio flat with no outdoor space
- The lease, freehold, or head tenancy contains a binding restriction on pets that you cannot override
- The number of pets already at the property makes an additional animal impractical
- The specific animal poses a genuine risk to the property or neighbours — for example, an exotic animal requiring specialist housing
What Counts as Unreasonable?
The following are likely to be considered unreasonable:
- A blanket "no pets" policy applied to all tenants regardless of circumstances
- Refusal based on personal preference or general dislike of animals
- Refusal without giving any reasons
- Refusal based on assumptions about a breed rather than the specific animal and property
Do Not Require Pet Damage Insurance
Do not require the tenant to buy pet damage insurance or reimburse your policy as a condition of consent. Compulsory insurance is restricted by the Tenant Fees Act. Deal with actual damage through the normal deposit, insurance or court process without recovering the same loss twice.
How to Prepare Now
The smart approach is to have your pet consent process ready before the Act comes into force. Here is what you should do:
- Draft a standard pet consent form that you can issue quickly when a request comes in
- Decide what conditions you would typically attach — type of animal, number and reasonable garden maintenance responsibilities
- Set up a reminder system so you never miss the 28-day deadline
- Familiarise yourself with reasonable and unreasonable grounds for refusal
- Review your tenancy agreement to make sure it reflects the new pet consent process rather than containing an outdated blanket ban
Being prepared means you can respond confidently and professionally, protecting both your property and your relationship with your tenant.
Take Action
Get your tenancy agreement and pet consent templates by generating your complete document pack today. You can also check your overall readiness with our free RRA Compliance Checker, or read our Plain English Guide to the RRA 2025 for the full picture.