Pets in lets latest: your questions answered

If you have a landlord or tenant insurance policy, you may have been contacted by the provider announcing the launch of a new product. Pet insurance is the next big thing in the private rental market and its arrival marks significant progress of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

The Government wants to remove barriers that have previously prevented tenants from keeping pets in rented properties and it’s using the Bill to make changes. We’re frequently asked about pets in lets, so below are the answers to the most commonly asked questions:

Q. Will it be easier to keep pets in rentals this year?

A. The Renters’ Rights Bill is quickly progressing through Parliament and some forecasters believe it could receive Royal Assent in April 2025. The Government has also given indication that select reforms may take immediate effect, so it’s highly likely pet-friendly measures will be introduced this year.

Q. Will the pet reform apply to all tenants?

A. After examining the Bill in more detail, it’s clear that not all tenants will benefit. Renters will have the right to request to keep a pet in a property from day one of the tenancy. This works on the presumption that the tenant moves in without a pet. There is no mention of rights given to a tenant moving between rentals who already owns a cat or dog.

Q. Will it become a mandatory right to allow pets in rented properties?

A. Not quite. The Bill will give tenants the right to request to keep a pet. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but there may be mitigating circumstances why a pet request could be denied. Once a tenant has made a request, the landlord must reply within 28 days with their verdict. This is different to the 42 days proposed by the Conservative’s failed Renters’ Reform Bill.

Q. Why could permission to keep a pet be refused?

A. At this present time, only one concrete reason for refusing a pet request has been mentioned and that’s if there’s a superior lease (such as a landlord owning a property in a freehold block where the freeholder has a blanket ‘no pets’ rule). The industry is seeking more clarification on other legitimate reasons, which may include dangerous dogs, allergies, access to outside space, nuisance noise and compromising the living standards of other tenants.

Q. What will a tenant be able to do if they don’t agree with a landlord’s decision?

A. Tenants will have the right to contest a landlord’s pet refusal. It is likely disputes of a pet nature will be mediated by a new private rental sector ombudsman.

Q. Will tenants be charged extra for keeping a pet?

A. In a bid to convince landlords to be more pet friendly, the Bill allows landlords to obtain better protection from pet damage. An amendment to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 will allow landlords to charge the tenant a fee to cover pet damage insurance, or the landlord can insist the tenant takes out a pet damage insurance policy when they sign the rental agreement, with the tenant directly covering the policy cost.

The Renters’ Rights Bill is still making its way through Parliament and the reforms, including the pet one, are subject to change. If you’d like to discuss how the proposals may affect your property or next move, contact our lettings department.