Landlords warned over crackdown on refusing pets in Scotland

Industry bodies are warning Scottish landlords that blanket “no pets” policies are likely to become harder to enforce.

Under the Scottish Housing Bill, tenants will be able to request permission to keep a pet in their home, and landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse such requests.

While pet charities have welcomed the proposal, many industry bodies caution that a balance must be struck between protecting the property against damage caused by pets and accommodating responsible tenants.

Cats Protection took in more than 1,000 cats

According to Dogs Trust, in 2024 the charity received over 43,000 handover enquiries from dog owners across the UK. In Scotland, one in ten of these enquiries was linked to a change in the owner’s housing situation, prompting them to seek help.

Cats Protection says that in 2024, it took in more than 1,000 cats due to landlords not allowing them in their properties, claiming this was the tenth most-cited reason for cats being given up to the charity.

Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, welcomed the proposed change but urged the Scottish government to do more to help landlords increase their confidence in renting to pet owners.

He said: “The Housing (Scotland) Bill becoming law will mean that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, which is excellent news and is something we have campaigned on for many years.

“While there’s no doubt this is a massive step forward in improving the availability of pet-friendly accommodation, there is still more to be done. Sadly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed in to our rehoming centres is a change in the owner’s living circumstances and a lack of available pet-friendly accommodation.

“We urge the Scottish government to work with the private and social rental sectors to increase confidence in renting to pet owners so that they are not disadvantaged when seeking suitable accommodation.”

Must include safeguards for landlords

Under the new rules, landlords will be required to respond in writing within 30 days to any tenant request to keep a pet. If a request is refused, tenants will have the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

The bill says tenants may challenge “any condition specified in the notice (‘consent condition’) on the ground that the condition is unreasonable.”

However, many Scottish landlords remain uncertain about what will constitute a reasonable refusal, or what kind of conditions they will be able to impose, such as limits on the number or type of pets that can be kept in a property.

The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) told Property118 that the Scottish government will clarify what counts as a reasonable refusal when it introduces secondary legislation.

SAL chief executive John Blackwood said: “As with all the provisions in the Scottish Housing Bill, the new duties in relation to pets won’t come into force for some time yet. The government is expected to publish secondary legislation next year, setting out the circumstances in which landlords can refuse permission for a pet, and the conditions they can impose if they consent to one.

“SAL will continue to work closely with policymakers to ensure this new requirement is implemented in a fair and proportionate manner, with clear guidance made available to both landlords and tenants so that they understand their rights and responsibilities.”

Mr Blackwood added secondary legislation must include measures to help landlords protect their properties from potential damage caused by pets.

He said: “It is vital that the secondary legislation includes adequate safeguards for landlords who find that their property has been damaged by tenants’ pets, along with protections to ensure that landlords can refuse permission for a pet which isn’t suitable or appropriate for the property.”

The key is to strike a balance

Miles Gilham, Propertymark regional executive for Edinburgh and Southern Scotland, says landlords should start to prepare and potentially increase deposit requirements.

He said: “As Scotland moves toward strengthening tenants’ rights to keep pets in rented homes, it’s essential that landlords prepare now for the changes. Blanket ‘no pets’ policies are likely to become harder to enforce, and landlords will be expected to consider requests on a reasonable, case-by-case basis.

“The key is to strike a balance between protecting the property and accommodating responsible tenants. Landlords should review their tenancy agreements, introduce clear pet policies, ensure they have suitable insurance in place, and potentially increase deposit requirements realistically within the set limits. With a structured approach, allowing pets can actually reduce void periods and attract long-term renters, so this shift can be as much an opportunity as it is a challenge.”