Renting with pets key questions answered

New Model Tenancy Agreement – England

In January, the UK Government updated the new standard tenancy agreement to make it easier for tenants with pets to find rented accommodation in England.

This means that if agents use the UK Government's new Model Tenancy Agreement, landlords will now have to seek consent for pets as the default position and will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.

Find out more  →

Tenancy Agreement – Propertymark

Use of the New Model Tenancy Agreement is voluntary and there has been no change in the law regarding the keeping of pets. Therefore, members can continue to use Propertymark's tenancy agreements. There is a clause that covers animals and pets.

Renting and pets – England

Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force on 1 June 2019 landlords and letting agents in England are only able to take a tenancy deposit of up to five weeks rent for the duration of the tenancy.

Rent can be increased to replace a Pet Premium on the Tenancy Deposit as long as it is advertised correctly.

Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill – England

This is an idea proposed by a backbench MP as a Private Members’ Bill to establish rights to keep dogs and other animals in domestic accommodation. Propertymark has met with the MP’s office to outline our concerns. Currently, the Bill does not have support from the UK Government and no date has been set for Second Reading. Therefore, it is unlikely to pass into law. However, we are monitoring the issue closely.

Renting and pets – Wales

As set out in the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, the Security Deposit is not capped in the legislation. This means that agents in Wales can take a higher Security Deposit if the tenant has a pet.

Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act due to be implemented in Spring 2022, the Welsh Government will be publishing model written statements for the new mandatory ‘occupation contracts’. These model contracts will include all the statutory terms from the Act and supplementary terms from secondary legislation. The statutory terms do not cover the keeping of pets, but such clauses could be included as ‘additional terms’.

Propertymark resources

Go to the online shop to download further information about our tenancy agreements and legislation affecting the charging of fees in England and Wales.