Renters’ Rights Act keeps pets and families together in England

No more blanket bans on pets for private renters in England

Before the passing of the Renters’ Rights Act, pets could be refused from properties without reason, as landlords were legally able to enforce a “no pets” ban in their tenancy agreements.

There were approximately 4.7 million private renting households in England in 2024– an unbelievably large number of households whose landlords dictated whether or not they were able to give an animal a safe, supportive home.

“For so long, too many potentially loving pet owners in England’s private rented sector have been denied the chance to own a pet without justifiable reason.” said Harriet Main, RSPCA Public Affairs Manager. “That will now change.” 

The Government has confirmed that the Renters’ Rights Act will come into force on May 1st 2026.

With the Renters’ Rights Act comes an RSPCA-respected shift; pet-friendly tenancies. Private rental tenants can now legally request to have a pet in their home, and landlords must consider it fairly – they can’t deny it without a justified reason. This means there will be no more blanket bans on pets. 

With more properties now allowed to have animals, more animals can now find homes. This has the ability to ease the pressure on rehoming centres, as we hope to see a surge in adoptions now that many renters are finally allowed to find themselves their next in-house companions.

Harriet added, “This has the chance to revolutionise rehoming for the RSPCA and many other animal welfare organisations.”

The RSPCA has campaigned for a change in legislation for many years. Pets, like people, deserve homes – in whatever shape or circumstances they come. We also promote pet-friendly housing through our Pawprints Award Scheme.

We’ve produced a range of Good Practice Guides for local authorities – on housing policies, contingency planning, and other dog welfare advice – showcasing the importance of improving animal welfare at a local level. Even though this new legislation doesn’t include social housing, we will always strive for pet friendly policies in all homes.

Righting the wrongs

With the Renters’ Rights Act in place, pet owners now have the following rights:

1. The right to request a pet: Tenants have a legal right to request to keep a pet in their home, and a landlord can’t unreasonably refuse this. 
2. The right to challenge refusal: If a landlord refuses a pet request without good reason, tenants may be able to challenge this. 
3. The right to greater transparency: Landlords have 28 days to respond (in writing) to pet requests. If they don’t respond, consent is implied. 
4. The right to protection against discrimination: Tenants can’t be denied a tenancy solely because they have or want a pet without a good reason. Any damage would be covered by a tenants rental deposit. 
5. The right to more stability: Ultimately, this legislation should result in positive benefits for pet owners, with less cases of people needing to rehome pets due to tenancy rules (the legislation doesn't apply to social housing).

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