Pets in Rental Properties — What Landlords Can and Cannot Do

Pets are one of the most common friction points in lettings — and the law around them has been moving in tenants’ favour. Here is where things stand and how to protect the property properly.

Can you refuse pets?

Historically, yes — blanket no-pet policies were common. Under the Renters Rights reforms, tenants gain a strengthened right to request a pet which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse, with the ability for landlords to require appropriate pet insurance. Check gov.uk for the current commencement position, but the direction is clear: outright refusals are getting harder to sustain, and a well-drafted consent process is the better strategy.

What you cannot charge

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps deposits at five weeks rent regardless of pets, and prohibits separate pet fees or pet deposits. What you can do is agree a modestly higher rent at the outset to reflect the additional risk, and require the conditions below in writing.

Putting consent in writing

Consent should be specific to a named pet, not open-ended. A pet addendum to the tenancy should cover keeping the animal under control and free of nuisance, immediate cleaning of waste, keeping the property free of fleas and odours, liability for any damage beyond fair wear and tear, professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy where a pet has lived there, and a provision to withdraw consent on reasonable notice if the conditions are seriously breached.

Why consent often makes commercial sense

Pet-friendly properties let faster and pet owners stay longer — they have fewer alternatives, so they move less. Combined with a proper addendum and a thorough check-in inventory, accepting the right pet on the right terms is usually better business than a void.