Pet request
Since 1 May 2026 a private tenant in England can ask in writing to keep a pet, and the landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and cannot refuse unreasonably.
In short: A pet request is a tenant's written request to keep an animal in the home. Under the Renters' Rights Act the landlord must reply in writing within 28 days, and can refuse only for a reasonable reason. A landlord cannot require pet insurance, a pet fee or a bigger deposit.
The Renters’ Rights ActTenancies and agreements
England. Checked against the law on 5 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.
How it works:
- The tenant asks in writing, describing the pet.
- The landlord answers in writing within 28 days. If they ask for more information, or need a superior landlord's consent, the time can run on to seven days after the answer arrives.
- A refusal must be reasonable: for example the head lease forbids pets and consent is refused, or the animal is unsuitable for the home.
- A blanket "no pets" clause no longer works.
The deposit cap is the same with or without a pet, and pet insurance or pet fees cannot be required: those are prohibited payments.
Read more: Pet requests: you have to consider them
Related: Prohibited payment, Deposit cap
Where this comes from
Guides on this
Guide
The assured periodic tenancy explained
Every private tenancy in England is now an assured periodic tenancy. What that is, how it starts, how it ends, and what your agreement can and cannot say.
Guide
Pet requests: you have to consider them
Since 1 May 2026 a tenant in England can ask to keep a pet, and the landlord must not unreasonably refuse. How the request works, what counts as reasonable, and what you can ask for in return.
Template
Written statement of terms: a fill-in checklist
A landlord in England must give the tenant a written statement of terms before the tenancy starts. This is a checklist to gather the details and record when you gave it. It is not a tenancy agreement.
Guide
What changed for landlords on 1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act came into force in England on 1 May 2026. Section 21 is gone, every tenancy is now periodic, and rent rises follow one procedure. Here is what a self-managing landlord actually has to do differently.
Related terms
Glossary
Assured periodic tenancy
The standard private tenancy in England since 1 May 2026: it rolls on month to month (or shorter) with no end date until the tenant or landlord ends it properly.
Glossary
Assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
The usual private tenancy in England from 1997 until 30 April 2026. On 1 May 2026 existing ASTs became assured periodic tenancies and no new private ones can be made.
Glossary
Written statement of terms
The document a private landlord in England must give a tenant before a tenancy is made, setting out the key terms the law lists. Required since 1 May 2026.
Glossary
The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet
A short government document explaining the 2026 changes, which landlords had to give tenants with a written tenancy agreement from before 1 May 2026 by 31 May 2026.
Glossary
Awaab's Law
Rules setting fixed times for landlords to investigate and fix damp, mould and other serious hazards. In force for social housing; due to be extended to private lets.
Glossary
Civil penalty
A fine a council can impose on a landlord or agent instead of prosecuting, for breaches of housing law such as letting an unlicensed HMO or ignoring an improvement notice.