A 2025 proposal about pet insurance is no longer the rule tenants and landlords need to follow. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force for this change in England on 1 May 2026. It gives tenants in most private assured tenancies a route to request permission to keep a pet, while setting limits on how a landlord can respond. The pet provisions do not apply to social housing tenancies.
A tenant must make the request in writing and include a description of the animal. The landlord must give or refuse consent in writing within 28 days. If more information is reasonably needed, the landlord can ask for it within that period. The response deadline can then move to seven days after the tenant supplies the requested information. If a superior landlord’s permission is required, the landlord can seek it within the original 28 days and the response may be delayed until seven days after the superior landlord replies.
Consent must not be unreasonably refused. The Act identifies a superior-lease restriction as a circumstance that can justify refusal where the landlord has taken reasonable steps to obtain the superior landlord’s consent and it was not given. Government guidance also gives examples such as a property being too small for the proposed pet, a household allergy, or an animal that is illegal to keep. The decision should be based on the circumstances of the particular request; a general dislike of pets or a blanket ban is not a substitute for considering it.
The debate in 2025 included a proposal to make pet-damage insurance a condition of permission. That requirement is not included in section 11 of the Act as enacted. The current government guidance says a landlord or tenant may be able to claim through an existing relevant insurance policy if damage occurs. It also says a landlord may use deposit money for repair costs caused by a pet, but the same damage cannot be recovered twice through both insurance and a deposit deduction.
This does not mean that a tenant can bring a pet into the home without asking. The request and written decision process still applies, and tenants remain responsible for damage they cause under the usual rules. Landlords should keep a clear record of requests, information received and the reason for each decision. Tenants should provide a useful description and answer reasonable follow-up questions promptly.
The law can depend on the tenancy and property, including superior-lease restrictions. This is a general guide to the England rules, not legal advice; check the current government guidance or obtain independent advice about a specific case.
Sources: Renters’ Rights Act 2025, section 11; GOV.UK landlord guidance on pet requests and damage; GOV.UK overview of the Act.