Is the Renters’ Rights Act good for pet owners? 

The law (historically) 

Prior to the 1^st May this year, the rules and regulations around landlords and tenants was governed by the Housing Act 1988. For many years, this had been under scrutiny because of many clauses which seemed to favour landlords over tenants and which many felt were massively biased. This left tenants feeling insecure and at risk of unfair treatment. Under this Act, landlords could evict tenants without having to give a reason, once the Assured Shorthold Tenancy ended, as long as they gave a notice period. They were able to end contracts early without denoting a cause and request large deposits up-front at the start of a tenancy agreement. Many people also felt that they were discriminated against because they were on benefits, had children or wished to keep a pet at the property.  

The new Renters’ Rights Bill was first broached in the House of Commons at the end of 2024. It then was approved to go to the House of Lords in early 2025 and in October 2025, was given Royal Assent, meaning it became an Act and therefore, law. The aim of this new Act is to rebalance the relationship between the UK’s 2.3 million landlords and 11 million renters. 

The law (now) 

The headline-grabbing main clause of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is the end of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. Many tenants felt scared to speak to their landlord to raise issues with the property or ask to make changes, fearful that the landlord may see them as ‘problematic’ and kick them out, without having to give a reason why. Obviously, not all landlords would be this way inclined, but some are, meaning their tenants may not only live in substandard accommodation, but also in fear of losing their home.  

Other measures within the Act include: 

• Ensure possession grounds are fair to both parties, giving tenants more security, while ensuring landlords can recover their property when reasonable. 
• Provide stronger protections against backdoor eviction by ensuring tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents which are purely designed to force them out. 
• Introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord. 
• Create a Private Rented Sector Database to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance (giving good landlords confidence in their position), alongside providing better information to tenants to make informed decisions when entering into a tenancy agreement. 
• Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. 
• Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector to give renters safer, better value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities. 
• Apply Awaab’s Law to the sector, setting clear legal expectations about the time-frames within which landlords in the private rented sector must take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards. 
• Make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – helping to ensure everyone is treated fairly when looking for a place to live. 
• End the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent. Landlords and agents will be required to publish an asking rent for their property and it will be illegal to accept offers made above this rate. 
• Strengthen local authority enforcement by expanding civil penalties, introducing a package of investigatory powers and bringing in a new requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity. 
• Strengthen rent repayment orders by extending them to superior landlords, doubling the maximum penalty and ensuring repeat offenders have to repay the maximum amount. 

The new rules around pets 

For pet owners, the stated clause  

…give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse… 

is very welcome and feels very much overdue. Pets are a huge part of many people’s lives, seen as part of the family and have massive benefits for their owner’s mental and physical health.  

The new law doesn’t mean that all pets will always be allowed in a rented house – it is still up to the landlord, but now rather than it being a default ‘no’ and the tenant having to try to persuade the landlord, it is a default ‘yes’ unless the landlord can give a good and reasonable counter-argument. If a landlord does refuse the tenant permission to have a pet and the tenant feel it is an unfair decision, they can appeal against it. This is where the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman comes into play. They will hear the argument from both parties and make an independent decision.  

Check your pets symptoms

Symptom Checker

In the past, landlords would often refuse a pet due to the risk of the pet causing damage, especially if the property is rented furnished. However, this will no longer be a valid reason. There is a set process to go through if a tenant does wish to keep a pet with them.   

If a tenant wishes to have a pet at the property, they will have to put that request in writing, and include details about the pet such as what type of pet it is, it’s size and it’s living arrangements (i.e. is it in a cage or enclosure). The landlord will then have 28 days to respond, again, in writing. The landlord can request further information about the pet, to which the tenant must reply – if they do not, the landlord can refuse the request for a pet.  

Once the landlord has received all the information they require, they will either have the remainder of the original 28 days, or an additional 7 days, whichever is later, to make a decision.  

Valid reasons for refusal could include: 

• the pet is an illegal pet 
• the pet is too large for the property 
• there are too many pets for the property 
• another tenant is allergic to the type of pet 
• the landlord is a leaseholder and the freeholder does not accept pets 

Invalid reasons for refusal include, but are not limited to: 

• the landlord doesn’t like pets 
• the landlord is concerned about potential damage caused by the pet 
• the landlord has previously had property damaged by a pet 
• the tenant needs the pet with them such as a guide dog 

If the tenant is allowed their pet in the property, they will still have to abide by the terms and conditions of the rental. If damage does occur, the landlord will still have the right to retain some or all of the deposit paid by the tenant to cover costs. If the deposit does not cover the full amount of damage costs, they may be required to take the tenant to court to recoup the additional money. Landlords also have the option to claim through their insurance. The pet must also not breach any anti-social behaviour orders, normally around noise, and obviously must always be kept to a high welfare standard. This will likely be an important aspect of any periodic property inspections during the tenancy.  

The knock-on effects 

Because of this change, it is hoped many more pets are able to stay with their owners in rented accommodation, especially after a change in circumstance such as a previous eviction or divorce.  

Homeless charities are optimistic that they will see a decrease in the number of people on the streets as many own dogs and would previously have been refused from private rentals.  

Re-homing centres are also positive that the number of pets having to be relinquished due to the owner moving into rented housing will fall, meaning more space for those in need and happier pets remaining part of the family.  

Although the change to pet ownership law in rented accommodation may be seen by many to only be a small part of this new Act, to those that it could apply to, it’s a huge step forward. Surely this can only bring about positive change allowing whole families to stay together – including the four-legged kind.  

Further reading: 

Assured Tenancy Agreements: If a tenant wants a pet to live with them – UK Government  

Guide to the Renters Rights Act – UK Government  

Law change could mean fewer pets in care – charity – BBC