Tenant Pet Requests — landlord obligations in England
From 1 May 2026, tenants have the right to ask in writing to keep a pet, and you cannot unreasonably refuse that request. You must respond in writing within 28 days, either granting or refusing consent and giving your reason. Blanket no-pets clauses in tenancy agreements no longer prevent a tenant from making a valid request.
The law that creates this obligation
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All landlords of private assured tenancies in England from 1 May 2026.
- When it applies: When a tenant makes a written request to keep a pet at the property.
- What you must do: Respond in writing within 28 days of the request, giving or refusing consent. If refusing, state a reasonable ground for the refusal. Keep a copy of the request and your written response.
What good evidence looks like
Your compliance file should contain
- Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
- Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
Upload the tenant's written pet request and your written response, including the date of each.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Consequences of non-compliance
Failing to respond within 28 days or unreasonably refusing a pet request can lead to a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for a first breach and up to £40,000 for repeated or continuing breaches, enforced by the local housing authority.
Further reading for landlords
LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.