Landlords should not worry about the new pet rules coming into force under the Renters’ Rights Act, one of the UK’s largest letting agencies has advised.
Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, part of the Lomond property group, says the changes present an opportunity rather than a threat. The agency points to research showing pet-friendly homes were the most sought-after feature among tenants last year.
What the new rules mean for landlords
From May 2026, tenants will have a formal right to request permission to keep a pet. Landlords will no longer be able to refuse these requests without a valid reason.
Under the new framework, landlords must respond to all pet requests on a case-by-case basis within 28 days. Where a refusal is necessary, they must clearly demonstrate that the request is unreasonable or unfeasible, for example due to lease restrictions. Service animals such as assistance dogs must always be permitted.
Landlords cannot ask for additional pet deposits to cover potential damage. The government has ruled that the standard deposit limit of one month’s rent is sufficient to cover any possible pet-related damage.
Agency advice on managing pet requests
KFH says landlords can still indicate a preference to let their property as “no pets” but must be prepared to consider reasonable requests.
KFH advises: “With managing agents in place, you can rely on them to remove any uncertainty and stress by conducting thorough tenant referencing and offering comprehensive insurances.”
The agency argues that properties welcoming pets may encourage tenants to stay longer, helping to reduce turnover and offering landlords greater stability. This could help address concerns around periodic tenancies and tenants serving notice more freely under the new rules.
The advice follows government guidance published earlier this month setting out expectations for how landlords should handle pet requests. Ministers have made clear they expect landlords to consider requests fairly and not impose blanket bans.
For landlords concerned about property damage, the agency recommends working with letting agents who can provide tenant referencing that includes pet ownership history and offer insurance products to cover pet-related damage beyond the standard deposit.
Industry data suggests around 54% of UK households own a pet, yet only a small proportion of rental properties are advertised as pet-friendly. This mismatch has created strong demand that landlords willing to accept pets can tap into.
Opinion
The pet rules have caused disproportionate anxiety among landlords, but KFH’s advice is sensible. A well-referenced tenant with a cat or small dog is no more risky than one without. The real question is whether landlords will embrace this as an opportunity to attract better tenants, or spend energy fighting the inevitable. Pragmatic landlords will get ahead of the curve now.
