New regulations enacted in the United Kingdom on May 1 aim to provide tenants with greater rights, including the ability to request pets. However, data collected two months after the Renters' Rights Act came into effect indicates that landlords are largely disregarding these provisions, with seven in ten rental listings continuing to reject pet ownership.
The Renters' Rights Act grants 11 million tenants new rights, such as the inability for landlords to evict without cause, the offering of open-ended tenancies, and a prohibition on blanket bans for pets. Tenants now have the right to formally request permission for a pet, and landlords must respond within 28 days. Refusals are permissible only for valid reasons, such as insufficient property size for the animal or severe allergies among other occupants, or if leasehold agreements forbid pets.
A study by Ratings Atlas analyzed 15,522 rental listings across 41 British cities. The findings revealed that 70 percent of these listings still explicitly stated no pets allowed. The prevalence of pet-friendly rentals varies significantly by location.
Derby recorded the lowest rate of pet-friendly housing, with less than 15 percent of rentals accepting pets. Plymouth followed with just over 15 percent, and Exeter with 17 percent. In Derby, only 37 out of 250 available properties were listed as pet-friendly.
Conversely, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Luton showed the highest rates of acceptance, with over 42 percent of listings permitting pets. In Sunderland, 44 out of 103 listings allowed pets, while Middlesbrough had 61 out of 142, and Luton offered 104 out of 240 pet-friendly options.
Landlords cannot refuse a pet request without a valid, documented reason. Blanket rejections based on personal preference or past experiences with other tenants' pets are not permitted. Similarly, landlords cannot refuse requests for assistance animals, such as guide dogs. Tenants have the right to challenge a refusal if they believe it to be unreasonable.
While the new rules do not permit landlords to charge a specific 'pet fees,' the data suggests that pet-friendly rentals may be more expensive. Ratings Atlas noted a potential £450 price difference between pet-friendly and non-pet-friendly homes. This disparity is attributed not to a 'pet tax,' but to the tendency for pet-friendly properties to be larger, often with gardens, making them more expensive overall. Smaller flats and shared housing, where pets are less commonly allowed, are generally cheaper.
To improve the chances of a pet request being approved, tenants are advised to submit a formal written request detailing the pet. Providing a "pet CV" that includes veterinary records, a reference from a previous landlord, and proof of pet insurance can offer landlords greater assurance. Renters are also encouraged to consider houses over flats, as houses are approximately three times more likely to accept pets. Searches for rentals under £700 per month are noted as being the most challenging for pet owners.
Reasons a landlord can legitimately refuse a pet request include an existing tenant having a severe allergy, the property being too small for the animal, the pet being illegal to own, or restrictions imposed by a leaseholder or building management. If a request is approved, landlords are unable to retract permission.