Can my landlord refuse a pet?

For tenants who want to keep a pet in their rental home.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Ask your landlord in writing, describing the pet. They must reply within 28 days and can't refuse without a fair reason.

Fair reasons may include allergies in the household, a property too small, or a freeholder ban.
Simply not liking pets or worries about damage usually aren't fair reasons.
Once agreed, they can't change their mind.
They can use your deposit for pet damage.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Ask in writing
Reply within 28 days
Fair reason needed to refuse

Who these pet rules cover

These rules are for private tenants in England with an assured periodic tenancy. This is a rolling tenancy that runs week to week or month to month. On 1 May 2026, all assured tenancies, including assured shorthold tenancies, automatically became rolling tenancies. So most private renters in England now fall under these rules.

Your tenancy is usually an assured periodic tenancy if:

the property is your main home
your landlord does not live there
you have your own room (you might share a kitchen or bathroom)

The rules do not cover you if your landlord lives with you, if the council is your landlord, or if you live in some purpose-built student housing. Holiday lets and business tenancies are also not covered.

How to ask for a pet, step by step

Write to your landlord. An email or letter is fine. A chat in person is not enough.
Describe the pet. Say what kind of animal it is, how big it is and how much space it needs. More detail helps your landlord decide.
Keep a copy of your request and note the date you sent it.
Wait for a written reply. Your landlord has 28 days to answer in writing.

If your landlord asks you for more information, they get extra time. They then have either the rest of the first 28 days or 7 more days from when they asked, whichever is longer.

Reasons a landlord can and cannot use

Usually a fair reason to say no	Usually not a fair reason
Someone you live with has an allergy	The landlord does not like pets
The home is too small for a large pet or several pets	Problems with pets from past tenants
The freeholder (the owner of the building) does not allow pets	A worry that a pet might cause damage one day
The pet is illegal to own	A worry that a pet makes the home harder to rent out later

The key test is whether the reason is fair for your home and your pet, not a general dislike of animals.

After your landlord says yes

Your landlord cannot change their mind later.
They cannot change your tenancy agreement to take the permission away.
If you want another pet, you must ask again in writing. Permission for one pet does not cover a second one.

If your pet causes damage

Your landlord can keep money from your deposit to pay for repairs caused by your pet. If there is pet insurance, they may also claim on it. But they cannot claim for the same damage twice, for example from both your deposit and the insurance.

It is a good idea to take dated photos of the home when you move in and when your pet arrives. This makes any later disagreement about damage easier to settle.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The rules on this page are part of England's tenancy system. Renting law is different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check the official guidance for your nation and your tenancy agreement before you get a pet.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read the full guide

Common questions

What if my landlord does not reply to my pet request?

Complain to your landlord or letting agent if they do not reply within 28 days, or if you think their reason for saying no is unreasonable.

Can my landlord refuse an assistance dog?

It would usually be unreasonable for a landlord to refuse if they know you need an assistance animal, such as a guide dog.

Do I need to ask again for a second pet?

Yes, if you want another pet you must ask your landlord for permission again.

Can my landlord take pet damage out of my deposit?

Yes, they can keep money from your deposit to repair pet damage, but they cannot claim for the same damage twice.

Source: If you want a pet to live with you

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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