Private tenants in England can now formally request permission to keep a pet under the Renters’ Rights Act. Landlords are no longer able to reject those requests without reasonable grounds.
The change took effect in June 2026 and applies to privately rented housing. Early figures from a UK pet insurance provider suggest the legislation is already influencing decisions by renters who had previously delayed getting a cat or dog.
The Renters’ Rights Act introduces new protections for private tenants seeking to keep pets in rented homes. Under the new framework, tenants have the right to submit a written request to keep a pet, and landlords must not unreasonably refuse permission.
The legislation does not apply to social housing tenants. It also does not cover people who have not yet become tenants, although prospective renters may still ask about keeping a pet when moving into a property.
New Rules Reshape Pet Requests in Private Rentals
According to Shelter UK, private tenants must make their request in writing and include a description of the pet. The organization said the right to request a pet will be implied into private tenancy agreements, meaning tenants will have the same rights regardless of what is written in their contract.
Before the law came into force, landlords could refuse requests for any reason. Under the new rules, landlords are expected not to unreasonably refuse permission, although they may still decline requests when they have reasonable grounds.
Landlords will generally have 28 days to respond and must provide their decision in writing. According to Shelter UK, the Act specifically recognizes some circumstances in which a refusal may be considered reasonable. These include situations where allowing a pet would breach an agreement with a superior landlord or where a superior landlord refuses consent.
Government guidance cited by Shelter also notes that a refusal could be reasonable if another tenant has an allergy, if the property is too small for the animal, or if the pet is illegal to own.
At the same time, the guidance states that it would not normally be reasonable to reject a request simply because a landlord dislikes pets, has experienced problems with pet-owning tenants in the past, or has general concerns about potential property damage.
Insurance Data Points to Growing Demand Among Renters
The legislative change appears to be having an immediate effect on pet ownership plans among renters. According to pet insurance provider Waggel, there has been a 26% increase in new policies since the Bill came into force.
The company also reported 20,000 additional insurance quotes compared with the previous month. Waggel said registrations of new dogs increased by 28%, while registrations of cats rose by 17%.
A spokesperson for Waggel said it was encouraging to see more people able to welcome pets into their homes and noted the benefits that animal companionship can bring. The spokesperson added that many renters appeared to have been waiting for the legislation before moving forward with plans to own a pet.
Disputes over pet requests may still arise. According to Shelter UK, tenants may eventually be able to complain to the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman if they believe a refusal is unfair, although the body is not expected to be operational until late 2026. Tenants can also challenge a refusal through the courts, which have the power to order a landlord to grant permission for a pet. Shelter noted, however, that legal aid will not be available for such applications, which could deter some tenants because of the potential costs involved.
