Private renters in England will have a legal right to formally request permission to keep a pet in their home from 1 May, under changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act.

The legislation means landlords can no longer rely on blanket "no pets" clauses to reject requests outright, and must provide a legitimate reason for any refusal within 28 days. Acceptable grounds for refusal include a property being unsuitable for the size or type of animal, a co-tenant having a severe allergy, or the breed being prohibited by law.

Hidden pet fees are also prohibited under the new rules. Landlords will be unable to charge a separate pet deposit on top of the standard five-week deposit, and cannot raise rent mid-tenancy on the basis that a tenant owns an animal.

The change is expected to affect a significant proportion of the country's 11 million private renters, more than half of UK adults own a pet, but many have historically been unable to find tenancies that permit them.

Pet insurer ManyPets is encouraging dog owners in rented accommodation to prepare supporting documentation before making a formal request to their landlord. The company has developed a free Pet CV builder to assist owners in collating relevant information, including breed, age, temperament, training history and veterinary references, which can be submitted alongside a formal written request.

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ManyPets CEO Luisa Barile, said: "For millions of renters, pet ownership has simply not been an option. Not because of a lack of love, space, or responsibility, but because of a blanket no in a tenancy agreement. That changes on 1 May, and it is a genuinely meaningful shift. At ManyPets, we want to make sure that excitement and preparation go hand in hand. Choosing the right animal, the right breed, the right temperament for your home and your routine is not a small decision and getting it right from the start is what sets a pet parent and their pet up for a brilliant life together.  

For anyone looking to use these new rights, our practical advice is to be proactive. A pet CV is one of the most effective tools a pet parent can have. It is a concise summary of your pet covering their breed, age, temperament, training history and vet references, and its purpose is straightforward: to give landlords confidence that you and your pet will be responsible, dependable tenants. We have built a free Pet CV tool to make this as simple as possible. The more clearly you can demonstrate what kind of pet parent you are, the stronger your position.” 

However, the legislation does not override headlease arrangements. Where a freeholder or management company has imposed a blanket prohibition on pets within a block, tenants may remain unable to keep animals despite the new statutory right.

Renters whose requests are refused and who believe that refusal to be unreasonable may challenge the decision through the County Court. A Private Rented Sector Ombudsman is also due to be established by 2028 to handle disputes of this nature.

As the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force this Friday, new consumer research from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, highlights the role that future changes to renting with pets could play in improving renters’ choice and flexibility in the market.

Rightmove’s property expert, Colleen Babcock, says: “Our recent survey of current and past renters revealed that 57% had missed out on a rental property they wanted in the past, due to being unable to move their pet in. So, it’s clear that changes to rules around renting with pets are likely to bring more choice and flexibility for many renters, especially those who’ve previously found it difficult to secure a home that welcomes their pet. “At the same time, it’s important to recognise landlords’ concerns around property condition and the costs that might come with that, which is why open communication and transparency on both sides will be key to making these changes work well in practice.”

ManyPets has built a free Pet CV builder to help renters pull together everything a landlord needs to see, from breed and training details to vet references, in one place - https://manypets.com/uk/pet-cv-builder/