Tenant pet request: when you must reply
Since 1 May 2026 a tenant can ask to keep a pet, and you have to answer in writing within 28 days. Enter the date the request arrived to see your deadline, including the extra time you get if you ask for more information.
Pet request deadline
Enter the date you received the request to see when you must reply by.
Reasons that may be fair to refuse
- Another tenant in the property has an allergy
- The property is too small for a large pet or for several pets
- The pet is illegal to own
- You are a leaseholder and the lease or freeholder does not allow pets
Reasons that are usually not
- You do not like pets
- You have had problems with pet-owning tenants before
- A pet damaged a property before
- A general worry that a pet might cause damage
- A worry that a pet might put off future tenants
- The animal is an assistance animal, such as a guide dog
How it works
01
The rules on pets
A tenant on an assured tenancy in England can ask in writing for permission to keep a pet, describing it. You must reply in writing within 28 days, and you cannot refuse without a good reason. Each request has to be considered on its own merits: a blanket “no pets” policy does not count as a reason.
This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check the requirements for where your property is.
02
Asking for more information
Within the 28 days you can ask the tenant for more about the pet, such as its breed, size, age or how it will be cared for. Until they answer, you do not have to decide. Once they do, you have whichever is later: the rest of the original 28 days, or 7 days from their answer.
03
Saying yes, with conditions
You cannot take a separate pet deposit: the deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent in most tenancies, and any damage the pet does can be claimed from it at the end, like any other damage.
04
If you refuse
Explain the reason in writing. A tenant who thinks the refusal is unreasonable, or who gets no answer, can complain to you and then take it to court. Keeping a record of the request, any questions you asked and your reply is your best protection.
05
Requests on file
TenantTool keeps the letters for each tenancy with its documents and tasks, so a pet request and your reply are on record and the deadline is on your calendar.
Common questions.
- How long does a landlord have to respond to a pet request?
- 28 days from receiving the written request. If you ask for more information within that time, you have the rest of the 28 days or 7 days from the tenant’s reply, whichever is later.
- Can a landlord refuse a pet?
- Yes, but only with a good reason, such as an allergy in another household, a home too small for the animal, or a lease that bans pets. Disliking pets or worrying about damage in general is usually not enough.
- Can I charge a pet deposit or pet rent?
- A pet deposit on top of the tenancy deposit would break the deposit cap, so no. Any increase in rent has to go through the section 13 process, like any other.
- What happens if I do not reply?
- Missing the deadline counts against you. The tenant can complain to you and then apply to court.