A new law will make pet ownership much easier for tenants, reports Andrea McHugh
For many years those living in the private rented sector have struggled to find good quality rental accommodation that welcomes pets. Until now, landlords who had been concerned about possible damage caused by pets were within their rights to simply say no to pet owners, and with demand for rental property consistently outstripping supply, this caused a great deal of anxiety to people who were worried about where they might live.
Now, with the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 completing its journey through parliament and achieving Royal Assent in October, tenants have a legal right to request to keep a pet in their home. Changes to the law will be introduced in stages throughout 2026, and the government will publish guidance before the new rules come into effect, but it can safely be said that pet ownership is no longer a privilege that is only available to home owners. Landlords cannot refuse a request unless they can prove reasonable grounds for concern, and blanket bans on keeping animals in a rental property, as well as discrimination against pet owners will be a thing of the past.
Sadly, it is often when people are at their most vulnerable that they need to move home. A change in circumstances, such as a relationship breakdown, or a landlord deciding to sell their property, are some of the main reasons why tenants need new accommodation. Additional worries about what to do with beloved pets can worsen the stress and heartbreak that people are already experiencing.
Charity concerns
In recent years many animal charities have reported rising numbers of pets reluctantly handed in by owners who were no longer able to care for them. Dogs Trust receives thousands of handover enquiries from dog owners struggling with the lack of pet-friendly housing and in 2025, stated that around 15% of handover enquiries cited accommodation issues as the reason.
Meanwhile, Cats Protection reported that in 2024 it took in over 1,000 cats due to landlords not allowing them in their properties, making this the tenth most-cited reason as to why cats were given up to the charity.
Research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection revealed that only 30% of tenants said their rental agreement allowed dogs, and 32% said cats were permitted. In over a third of cases where pets were not allowed in a rental property, the landlord’s decision had not been based on specific tenants or animals but was a response to generic advice or standard rental agreement templates.
Pet owners may be celebrating the good news, but the data also reveals that landlords who accept pets can benefit changes to the law. Just over a quarter of tenants surveyed said they would stay in a rental property longer if pets were allowed, thereby reducing turnover and providing greater tenancy stability.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: “These new pet-friendly renters' rights mean that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, which is something we have been campaigning on for many years. It is a game-changer for pet-loving tenants.
“While there’s no doubt this is a massive step forward in improving the availability of pet-friendly accommodation, there is still more to be done. Sadly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed in to our rehoming centres is a change in the owner’s living circumstances and a lack of available pet-friendly accommodation.
“We urge the Government to work with the private and social rental sectors to increase confidence in renting to pet owners so that they are not disadvantaged when seeking to access suitable accommodation."
Grace Milham, Group Operations Director for The Property Franchise Group, the UK’s largest multi-brand lettings and estate agency franchise group, says: “The Renters’ Right Act 2025 is good news for tenants with pets, as once they have moved into a property, they can then request permission in writing for their pet to be able to stay with them. The landlord must consider each request fairly and respond within 28 days, only refusing permission if there are reasonable grounds. If a tenant feels a landlord has unreasonably refused their request, they can complain to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman or take the case to court. Furthermore, landlords are not allowed to request that pet owners take out additional insurance on properties or pay an extra deposit to cover any damage, although as you would expect, tenants are responsible for the costs of any damage caused by their animals.
“The Property Franchise Group has been preparing landlords for these changes for many months, to ensure that agents can make everyone aware of how the new law will impact them. Our agents can provide additional information on the Renters’ Right Act to tenants and landlords should this be needed.”
Case study
Jem Quarry from Wellingborough reflects on her experience of renting with dogs…
Q: How difficult was it to find a rental property that allowed dogs?
A: My partner and I started looking in 2017, but rental properties that allowed pets were slim pickings and we were turned down several times because of our dogs. We offered an extra pet deposit and around a year later we eventually found a private landlord who would rent to us with our three girls. In the end this resulted in me letting my elderly Corgi boy stay in the house he’d grown up in where he lived his best ‘retirement’ with my parents.
Q: How has this impacted your life?
A: Before we found our current house my partner and I were in ‘limbo’, living with my parents for a long time and not knowing if we and the dogs would ever have our own space. Saying goodbye to my Russ boy during the pandemic was incredibly hard and I harbour a lot of guilt for missed time and not being able to bring him with us.
Finding a place that allowed our girls was a huge relief - living with anxiety and knowing I couldn’t be without my girls, made a massive difference to my health. I am able to involve myself in dog sports, which is a huge benefit to my health physically and mentally.
Q: What are your views on the law changing?
A: I think it’s a fantastic step. Our dogs are part of our family, and this change alleviates some of the worry over the future. Hopefully in the future I can look on property websites without feeling defeated before the page has even loaded! More needs to be done to keep renters with their furry families, but progress always brings me hope.