Can landlords refuse pets in England? Your right to ask explained

Can landlords refuse pets? In England, not without good reason. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 gives tenants the right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords must consider each request and cannot refuse unreasonably, according to guidance from the trade body Propertymark.

Propertymark published a new renting with pets guide for letting agents, as reported by Property Industry Eye, The Negotiator, PropertyWire and Property Reporter. It is written for agents, but it shows what tenants can expect and what landlords are now being told to do.

What the Renters’ Rights Act says about pets

The change in plain English is that asking for a pet is now a right, and the landlord has to give the request proper thought. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 in England, landlords must consider requests and cannot refuse them unreasonably. Propertymark’s guide explains a 28-day timeframe for considering a request and gives examples of circumstances that may amount to reasonable grounds for refusal.

The sources do not list those grounds in full, so this article does not guess at them. What they do say is that the Act gives a right to request, not an automatic right to keep any animal in any home.

The rules are not the same across the UK. Propertymark’s guide covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and says different requirements apply in each. The table below sets out what the reports confirm.

Who gains, and who takes on extra work

Tenants with pets gain the clearest benefit: a route to ask, a time limit for an answer and a standard that a refusal must meet. They can strengthen a request with supporting information. Propertymark suggests references from previous landlords or vets, and a so-called pet CV.

Landlords and agents take on more process. Propertymark advises them to assess whether the property suits the type and size of pet proposed, and to check leases and headleases for restrictions before agreeing. It also recommends detailed inventories and regular inspections, which can provide evidence if a dispute arises over damage or the condition of the property.

The trade body argues the effort can pay off. It points to research suggesting pet-related damage is less than half the level of non-pet-related damage, and that tenants with pets tend to stay longer. Propertymark says this can bring financial benefits for landlords who support responsible pet ownership. That is the trade body’s reading of research it cites, and the reports do not name the studies.

Deposits are a further variable. Propertymark says agents need to understand differences in permitted tenancy deposits depending on where they operate, so tenants should not assume the rules in one nation apply in another.

A worked example: the 28-day clock

Take a tenant in England who emails a landlord on Monday 5 October 2026 asking to keep a cat. The reports say landlords have 28 days to consider a request. Counted simply, that points to Monday 2 November 2026 as the date by which the tenant should expect an answer.

This is an illustration, not legal advice. The sources do not explain exactly when the 28 days start or how they are counted, so tenants and landlords should check the detail in the Act or Propertymark’s guide. Keeping a dated copy of the request is sensible either way.

Within that window, a careful landlord might check the lease, consider whether the home suits a cat, and look at any references supplied. If the answer is no, the refusal must not be unreasonable. A tenant who gets a flat refusal with no explanation has grounds to ask what the reasoning is.

What to do now

Tenants in England should put the request in writing and say what animal it is, its size and age, and how it will be looked after. Adding a reference from a previous landlord or a vet, and a short pet CV, follows Propertymark’s advice and gives the landlord something concrete to weigh. If the landlord is willing, Propertymark also suggests a meeting between landlord, tenant and pet where appropriate.

Landlords and agents should check the tenancy and any headlease for restrictions, and decide how they will judge suitability for the type and size of pet. They should also make sure the inventory is thorough before the animal moves in, and plan regular inspections. Henry Griffith, senior policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “Good processes, clear communication and thorough record-keeping can help agents and landlords manage risk while also supporting responsible pet ownership.”

Tenants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should not rely on the English rules. Propertymark says the regulatory position is evolving across the UK, and Griffith said it is “increasingly important that agents understand the rules that apply in their area.”

Your questions answered

Can landlords refuse pets in 2026?

In England, a landlord can refuse only if the refusal is not unreasonable. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 requires landlords to consider each request, and Propertymark’s guide describes a 28-day timeframe for doing so.

Can landlords legally stop you from having pets?

The Act gives tenants a right to request permission, rather than a right to any pet they choose. A landlord cannot simply say no without good reason, but the reports confirm that reasonable grounds for refusal exist.

What are the new laws for pet owners in the UK?

In England, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 covers pet requests. In Scotland, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 includes pet protections. Propertymark says Wales and Northern Ireland have their own requirements, and deposit rules differ across the nations.

What is a reasonable reason to refuse a pet?

The sources do not give a full list. Propertymark’s guide includes examples of circumstances that may be reasonable grounds, and advises agents to check whether a property suits the type and size of pet, and whether a lease or headlease imposes restrictions.