Government hints at allowing leaseholders to keep pets

The government has confirmed it is considering giving leaseholders the right to keep a pet.

In response to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the government was considering the issue as part of its wider leasehold reforms.

The news comes as, under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants now have the right to request a pet and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.

Considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets

In a written question, Liberal Democrat MP Monica Harding asked: “Whether the government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent leasehold agreements from imposing blanket bans on pet ownership”.

In response, Mr Pennycook said: “The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.

“At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder.

“The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.”

Right to request a pet

The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Act, which is now in force, gives tenants the right to request permission to keep a pet.

Tenants must submit their request in writing, outlining the type of pet they wish to keep, while landlords have 28 days to respond.

Landlords may only refuse on reasonable, evidence-based grounds, such as the property being unsuitable because of its size.