Pets and property: What every owner should know about renting or selling with animals

Most people think of property in practical terms: location, size, price, condition. Pet owners carry an additional layer of consideration through every stage of the process, whether they are searching for somewhere to rent, preparing a property for sale, or managing a tenancy with an animal in residence. Getting the approach right is mostly straightforward, but it helps to know what to expect at each stage and what the rules actually say.

Renting with pets: The right to request

Since 1 May 2026, private tenants in England have a legal right to request permission to keep a pet in their rented home under the Renters' Rights Act. Landlords can no longer refuse a request without a documented, specific reason. What you have is a right to make a request, and your landlord must consider it genuinely and respond in writing within 28 days.

The most important principle to understand from the outset is that honesty is the only viable approach. Keeping a pet in a property without permission puts your entire tenancy at risk. If the tenancy ends as a result, you also risk losing part or all of your deposit. Making a formal written request, even if the outcome is uncertain, is always the correct route. It establishes transparency from the beginning and creates a record that protects both parties if questions arise later.

Making a strong pet request

The written request must include a description of the pet. Going beyond the minimum and treating the request as an opportunity to introduce your animal properly gives your landlord the context to make a confident decision rather than a cautious one.

A well-prepared pet request might include the type, breed, and age of the animal, any training it has completed, up-to-date vaccination records, and a clear explanation of your arrangements for the pet's care during working hours or periods away from the property. For dogs in particular, offering the landlord the opportunity to meet the animal can be effective. A landlord who has met a calm, well-trained dog is in a very different position to one who is working from a description alone.

The request should be specific rather than general. Address the property directly: why is it suitable for this particular animal? A ground-floor flat with access to a garden makes a different case for a medium-sized dog than a second-floor flat without outdoor access. Landlords who receive requests that acknowledge the property's specifics rather than simply asking for a blanket approval are more likely to engage constructively.

What landlords cannot do under the new rules

A blanket no-pets clause in a tenancy agreement is no longer enforceable. A refusal must be based on a specific, documented, and reasonable ground, such as a superior lease that prohibits animals, or a genuine structural reason why the property is unsuitable for the animal in question. Landlords cannot require tenants to pay a pet deposit or demand insurance as a condition of consent. Consent, once given, cannot be withdrawn. Each additional or different pet requires a separate written request.

Selling with pets: Getting the presentation right

For sellers, the considerations are different but equally practical. Buyers form strong impressions very quickly, and the presence of animals, however loved, can affect the sensory experience of a property in ways that require active management before viewings begin.

Odour is the most significant and most commonly overlooked factor. A home that carries a pet smell, regardless of how clean it is in every other respect, creates an impression that is difficult to reverse once formed. Deep cleaning carpets and soft furnishings professionally before the first viewing, ensuring good ventilation throughout the marketing period, and washing pet bedding and accessories regularly are all straightforward steps that produce a measurable difference in how the property is perceived.

Visible pet damage deserves the same attention. Scratched doors, chewed skirting boards, worn carpet patches at favourite resting spots, and marked walls are all noticed by buyers during viewings and by surveyors during inspections. Addressing these before marketing begins removes the negotiating leverage they would otherwise give a buyer and prevents them from creating a general impression of a home that has been allowed to deteriorate.

During viewings, arrange for pets to be elsewhere where possible. Some buyers are genuinely uncomfortable around animals, and even the most sociable dog greeting visitors at the door introduces a distraction that takes attention away from the property itself.

Renting out a property to pet owners

For landlords, the new framework is an operational adjustment rather than a disruption. Building a consistent process for receiving, considering, and responding to pet requests within the 28-day window is now a standard part of tenancy management. A considered approach, grounded in the specifics of each request and each property, is both legally compliant and commercially sensible.

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