Updated: July 2026 • Based on UK Law • England Only

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What Is a Pet Request Letter?

A pet request letter is a tenant’s written request to keep a pet in a rented property in England. Since 1 May 2026, under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords must respond in writing within 28 days and cannot refuse the request without a fair reason.

This guide covers the new pet rules for renting, fair reasons to refuse, and the 28-day response deadline, with a free pet request letter builder included.

For decades, two words in the tenancy agreement settled it: “no pets”. Since 1 May 2026, those two words settle nothing.

Tenants in England now have a statutory right to ask — and landlords cannot refuse without a fair reason.

A written request starts a 28-day legal clock. Miss it, or refuse badly, and the refusal can be challenged.

✓ 100% FREE Pet Request Letter Builder

Completely free — no payment, no registration, no watermarks, no catch. Unlimited use. Guided questions or classic editor — the letter includes everything the law says a request must contain, and the built-in calculator gives the exact date the landlord’s response is due. Landlords: received a request? The same free calculator gives you your exact 28-day response deadline. → Open the Free Pet Request Builder

Pet approved? Pair it with our Pet Addendum Checklist — also free — to get the agreed conditions down properly.

Can Landlords Refuse Pets in the UK?

Yes — but only with a fair reason. Since 1 May 2026, a blanket “no pets” policy is no longer enough on its own.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 writes the right to ask into every assured periodic tenancy in England.

    • Tenants can ask in writing to keep a pet, at any point in the tenancy
    • Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse — each request must be considered on its merits
    • The response must be in writing, within 28 days of the request
    • Refusals should be explained — an unexplained “no” is easy to challenge

Landlords still keep control. A refusal stands when the reason is fair, specific to the property and the pet, and documented.

What no longer works is refusing on autopilot. The strength of your reasoning now matters as much as the decision.

What Are the New Pet Laws in the UK 2026?

The pet provisions sit in sections 10 and 11 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, in force since 1 May 2026 in England.

    • An implied term in every tenancy: the tenant may keep a pet if they ask properly and the landlord consents
    • Consent not to be unreasonably refused — the statutory test
    • 28 days to respond in writing, with limited extensions for further information
    • Approval sticks: once given, consent cannot be withdrawn for that pet
    • Each new pet needs a new request — one approval does not cover future animals
    • No insurance requirement: the final Act does not require tenants to take out pet insurance

These rules apply to every assured periodic tenancy — including tenancies that started before May 2026 and converted.

They are one strand of a much bigger reform — our Renters’ Rights Act 2025 guide covers the full framework.

What Is a Fair Reason to Refuse a Pet?

The Act does not list fair reasons — but official guidance and early practice draw a clear line.

Likely Fair to Refuse Usually Unreasonable
Someone in the household has an allergy The landlord simply does not like pets
The property is too small for the pet or number of pets A previous tenant’s pet caused damage
A freeholder or superior landlord does not allow pets General worry about possible future damage
The animal is illegal to own Refusing a needed assistance animal, such as a guide dog

The pattern: fair reasons are specific to this property and this pet. Unreasonable ones are general dislikes and hypotheticals.

Landlords: whatever your decision, put the reasoning in writing. A documented refusal is defensible — an unexplained one is not.

The 28-Day Deadline: What Landlords Must Do

The moment a tenant’s written request lands, a statutory clock starts. You must give or refuse consent in writing, within 28 days.

    • Need more detail? Ask within the 28 days. Once the tenant replies, you have the rest of the 28 days or 7 extra days — whichever is later
    • Tenant does not reply? You are not required to give a decision on that request
    • Freeholder consent needed? Seek it within the 28 days — you then have until 7 days after their answer
    • Miss the deadline? The tenant can complain — and challenge the silence or the refusal

Silence is the worst response. It hands the tenant the argument and leaves you nothing on file to defend.

The document for this job: the Pet Permission Decision Notice (£10 one-time) structures your approval, conditional approval or refusal with reasons — inside the statutory deadline.

Preview the full document before you pay — Editor and Interview versions included.

How Do I Ask For a Pet?

The request must be in writing and must describe the pet: what type of animal, how big it is, and how much room it will need.

A verbal chat at the door starts no clock and creates no record. Only a written request triggers the 28-day duty.

Strong requests also add supporting detail — house training, temperament, and rental history with the pet — making a fair refusal harder to sustain.

Our free Pet Request Builder produces the full letter with the response deadline calculated — no payment, no sign-up.

Landlords benefit too: a complete written request is far easier to assess — and answer — than a text message about “a dog”.

What Is the Pet Clause in a Tenancy Agreement?

A pet clause sets out whether and how pets may be kept. Since May 2026, a blanket ban clause cannot override the statutory right to ask.

Older AST-era agreements often still carry them — our Assured Shorthold Tenancy guide explains what survived the conversion.

When you approve a pet, record the agreed conditions properly — pet description, cleaning and damage responsibilities.

The Pet Addendum (£10 one-time) adds those terms to the tenancy paperwork.

For new lettings, the Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement (£10 one-time) is the RRA-era agreement.

What Happens If Your Landlord Finds Out You Have a Pet?

Keeping a pet without permission may breach the tenancy agreement — and breach of tenancy is a possession ground.

Landlords discovering an unauthorised pet have a choice: enforce the breach, or regularise the position.

Enforcement is rarely the smart first move. Breach of tenancy (Ground 12) is discretionary — a judge decides whether possession is reasonable.

Given the tenant could simply submit a valid written request you may not fairly refuse, the practical route is usually to require exactly that.

Invite a proper request, decide it on its merits within 28 days, and put conditions in a signed addendum. Paper beats standoffs.

Our Landlord Checklist for the Renters’ Rights Act covers this and every other new obligation in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for landlords to say no pets in the UK?

Advertising a preference is not illegal.

But in England, refusing a written pet request without a fair reason breaches the tenancy terms implied by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

A blanket “no pets” clause cannot override the tenant’s statutory right to ask, and each request must be considered on its merits.

Can a landlord change their mind after agreeing to a pet?

No. Once consent is given for a pet, it cannot be withdrawn for that animal.

A new or additional pet is different — that needs a fresh written request and a fresh decision.

Do tenants have to take out pet insurance?

No. The final Act does not require tenants to hold pet insurance, though some choose to.

Landlords can claim against the deposit for pet damage with strong check-in and check-out evidence — but cannot recover for the same damage twice.

What about assistance animals like guide dogs?

Refusing a tenant who needs an assistance animal would usually be unreasonable.

Equality law also requires landlords to make reasonable adjustments for disabled tenants.

Landlords should treat these requests with particular care and take advice before refusing.

Do the new pet rules apply in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. The pet provisions of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 apply to assured periodic tenancies in England only.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate tenancy regimes with their own rules on pets.

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Last updated: July 2026

Disclaimer: This guide provides general UK legal information, not legal advice. Laws are current as of July 2026.