One of the more surprising changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act is the right for tenants to request permission to keep a pet. For letting agents who have routinely used blanket 'no pets' policies, this requires a significant change in approach.
The New Pet Rights
Under the Renters' Rights Act, tenants have the right to request permission to keep a pet in their rented home. This is not an automatic right to keep a pet — it is a right to request permission. However, landlords and letting agents must handle these requests in a specific way.
The 28-Day Response Requirement
When a tenant makes a written request to keep a pet, the landlord (or letting agent on their behalf) must respond in writing within 28 days. The response must either:
Failure to respond within 28 days is treated as granting permission.
What Counts as a Reasonable Refusal?
The Act does not provide an exhaustive list of reasonable grounds for refusal, but examples include:
A blanket 'no pets' policy is not a reasonable ground for refusal.
Pet Insurance Requirements
Landlords can require tenants to take out and maintain pet insurance as a condition of granting permission. This provides protection against damage caused by the pet.
Updating Your Procedures
Letting agents must update their procedures to include a documented pet request process. This should include:
1. A standard form for tenants to submit pet requests
2. A checklist for assessing whether permission should be granted or refused
3. Template response letters for both granting and refusing permission
4. A record-keeping system for all pet requests and responses
RentersComply's Pet Policy Generator creates all of these documents automatically and ensures your procedure is fully compliant with the new Act.