Two thirds of renters plan to request preserving a pet as new legal guidelines streghthen rights to have them

Landlords should expect most tenants to request keeping a pet in their home after Labour’s Renters Rights Act came into force on Friday. 

Two-thirds of renters plan to request keeping a pet in their home because of the new law, research from pet insurer Animal Friends shows. 

New rules mean tenants will have strengthened rights to request a pet in their property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. 

To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.

Until the new law came into force, renters had to get permission from landlords to keep cat and dogs, and other animals. 

A landlord did not need a specific reason to deny this request, and housing contracts commonly ruled out keeping pets. 

Some 37 per cent of renters said they were unable to live with their pet because a landlord did not allow them to keep it, with many forced to give them up. 

Two-thirds of renters plan to request keeping a pet in their home because of the new law, research from pet insurer Animal Friends shows.

In more than a quarter of cases, beloved pets had to be rehomed with a friend or family member and 8 per cent of renters had to send their dogs or cats to a rescue centre. 

But these renters will have the opportunity to bring them home.   

More than half of renters that have been separated from their pet because of their landlord’s policy will now apply to bring them home. 

Three in 10 plan to live with their pet as soon as possible. 

Even with the new law, you must still request permission from your landlord to keep a pet, but they can’t deny your request unless they have a valid reason, such as if the pet is too large for the property. 

Among those planning to get a pet, 62 per cent say they prefer to get a dog.

Cost of pet: £2,000 a year for the typical dog

While two-thirds of renters may be planning to keep a pet under the new rules, you should keep in mind the cost of keeping a furry friend. 

An average dog costs nearly £2,000 a year to keep while a cat costs £1,500 according to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. 

Pet insurance can cost hundreds of pounds a year and have skyrocketed beyond the general inflation rate in the past decade.  

Jen Wormleighton, head of veterinary services at Animal Friends Pet Insurance said: ‘Under the new system, anyone considering a pet should carefully factor in the long‑term costs. 

‘These can include initial items (such as beds or litter trays), ongoing expenses like food and preventive healthcare, walking or boarding costs, potential veterinary care, and the animal’s expected lifespan. 

Bringing a pet into the family should always be a well-thought through decision, including financial preparedness.’ 

Are you a renter planning to get a cat or dog – or bring one back after having to give them up? [email protected]