If you are a landlord you’ve probably heard that the rules on pets have changed. Since 1 May 2026 the Renters’ Rights Act has given tenants in England the right to ask to keep a pet and landlords now have to give that request proper consideration.
Here’s what that means in practice and how we’re helping our landlords stay on the right side of it.
No more blanket bans
“No pets” is no longer something you can apply across the board or put in a listing. Every request has to be looked at on its own merits: the animal, the home and the circumstances.
The clock starts when the request lands
When a tenant asks in writing you have 28 days to give a written answer. If you need to know more such as breed, size, age or whether the dog is house trained you have to ask within those 28 days.
Once the tenant replies you get a little extra time to make your decision. If you’re a leaseholder and need your freeholder’s say so there’s extra time for that too as long as you ask them promptly.
You can still say no, but only for good reason
Reasonable grounds include a home that is genuinely too small for the animal a lease or freeholder that prohibits pets or the wellbeing of other people in a shared house. Not liking pets or having had a bad experience with a previous tenant’s dog won’t cut it.
What about deposits?
You can’t take a bigger deposit just because a tenant has a pet. That makes two things more important than ever: a thorough photo backed inventory at check in and the right landlord insurance cover.
How Horizon Lets helps
For our managed landlords, we:
✔️ log every pet request the day it arrives and track the deadline
✔️ gather the right information from the tenant early
✔️ check lease restrictions and talk to freeholders where needed
✔️ give you a clear recommendation, and put your decision in writing
✔️ document the property’s condition in detail, so you’re protected at check-out
Plenty of pet owners turn out to be settled long term tenants who treat their home with care. With the right process saying yes can be good for business.
Questions about a pet request or about the Renters’ Rights Act more generally? Get in touch with the Horizon Lets team. We’re always happy to talk it through.
This post is general guidance, not legal advice.
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