“Landlords can’t refuse pets anymore.”

It is something we hear regularly from estate agents at Pets Lets and unfortunately, it isn’t true. Sadly, there is a lot of confusion over the matter. Buildings allowing pets comes under separate legislation.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which introduced major changes to renting in England from 1 May 2026, has strengthened the position of tenants who want to keep a pet.

But it has not created a blanket ‘yes to pets’ policy.

And one of the biggest obstacles for anyone renting with pets in the UK remains something many tenants have never heard of: the head lease.

What do the new rental laws actually say about pets?

Under the new rules in England, tenants can make a written request to keep a pet and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse that request.

That is very different from saying: “Every landlord must accept pets.”

Government guidance confirms that landlords can still refuse a pet where there is a valid reason.

Examples could include a property being unsuitable for the particular animal or restrictions imposed by a freeholder. And that brings us to head leases.

What is a head lease and why does it matter to pet owners?

This particularly affects leasehold properties, including many flats and apartments.

Your landlord may own the flat, but their ownership can still be subject to the terms of a head lease.

That lease may contain restrictions on keeping animals.

So even if:

the tenant has an excellent Pet CV;
the individual landlord is perfectly happy with pets;
the letting agent describes the property as pet-friendly;

the building itself may still prohibit them.

The Renters’ Rights Act specifically recognises this situation. It can be reasonable for a landlord to refuse a pet where allowing it would put the landlord in breach of an agreement with a superior landlord. Where superior-landlord consent is required, the landlord must take reasonable steps to obtain it before relying on a refusal of consent.

That is a crucial distinction.

“Pet-friendly property” does not always mean pet-friendly building

This is something we regularly check at Pets Lets.

An advert might say “pets considered”, and an agent might initially say that a landlord is happy with a dog or cat.

But that doesn’t necessarily answer the most important question:

Does the building allow pets?

We have seen renters progress with properties only for a head lease or building restriction to appear later in the process.

That is why anyone searching for a pet-friendly flat in London or elsewhere in England should ask early:

“Have you checked the head lease or superior lease and confirmed that my pet is permitted?”

Don’t simply ask whether the landlord accepts pets.

Can a freeholder still say no to pets?

Yes, potentially.

Official government guidance specifically gives the example of a freeholder not allowing pets as a circumstance where refusal may be reasonable.

This is why headlines suggesting that landlords must now accept pets can be misleading.

The new law gives tenants a stronger right to request a pet. It does not give every tenant an automatic right to have a pet in every property.

Check before you commit

If you are renting with a dog, cat or other pet, particularly in a leasehold apartment, establish the building’s pet policy as early as possible.

At Pets Lets, our view is simple:

No point falling in love with a property if your pet can’t live there.

The new rental laws are certainly a step forward for pet owners, but there is no blanket “yes to pets”.

And when it comes to flats, the small print in the head lease can still be more important than the big wording in the property advert.

Need help securing a rental with your pet?

At Pets Lets, we specialise in helping people find and secure pet-friendly rental properties across London and large parts of the UK — including clients relocating from overseas.

Already found the property but worried about affordability, referencing or getting your application over the line? Our Rental Approval Service can help you identify potential problems and strengthen your position before they cost you the property.

And if you’re preparing to start your search, you can create your Pet CV with Say Yes to Pets so it’s ready to go when you find the right home.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Rental rules differ across the UK and may change, so always check the current rules applicable to your tenancy.

Call to Action

If you’re navigating the UK rental market with a pet—or thinking about it—take a look at:

👉 https://www.sayyestopets.co.uk/

Get the right advice early, and you’ll put yourself in a completely different position when it matters most.

About the Author – Russell Hunt

Pets Lets Expert Insight

This article was written by 罗素-亨特, co-founder of Pets Lets, a specialist service helping tenants secure pet-friendly property to rent in London and across the UK.

With more than 30 years of experience in the London property market, Russell works with tenants, landlords and estate agents to make renting with pets possible in practice, not just in theory. His work focuses on helping pet owners present strong applications, prepare properly for competitive markets, and navigate landlord concerns around pets.

Through Pets Lets, Russell supports UK tenants with pets as well as educates landlords with UK properties on the benefits of dog friendly rentals and cat friendly rentals in London and across the UK.

Russell also runs the community “Relocating to the UK with Pets”, helping thousands of members understand the realities of travelling to the UK with pets.

Learn more about pet-friendly renting advice and services at Pets Lets

For further guidance on renting with pets, visit Dogs Trust’s Lets with Pets