Tenants can challenge pet refusals in court ahead of Ombudsman

The government has admitted it has not carried out an impact assessment for tenants challenging pet refusals ahead of the Ombudsman coming into effect.

However, in response to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that tenants will be able to challenge their landlord in court if they believe a refusal to allow a pet is unreasonable.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants have the right to reasonably request a pet, and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse permission.

Challenge decision in court

The Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will be mandatory for landlords once it comes into effect and is designed to resolve disputes between tenants and private landlords without going to court.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater asked the government what mechanisms would be available for tenants to challenge unreasonable refusals to keep a pet before the Ombudsman is operational.

Mr Pennycook said: “In implementation Phase 2, from late 2026, we will introduce the national Private Rented Sector Database and Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.

“Prior to the establishment of the new service, if a tenant believes their landlord has unreasonably refused a request to keep a pet, they will be able to challenge the decision in court.

“My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact on tenants during the period between 1 May 2026 and when the new service becomes available.”

Case-by-case basis

The government has released more detailed guidance for landlords on handling tenant requests to keep pets.

Landlords are required to consider each request on a case-by-case basis. Once a tenant submits a request, the landlord has 28 days to respond in writing. If the landlord does not respond within this period, the tenant may apply to the court.

Landlords may request additional information about the pet, such as its size, but this must be done within the initial 28-day period. Once the tenant provides the requested information, the landlord then has seven days to issue a final decision.

A landlord may refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet in certain circumstances. These include if another tenant has an allergy (though the guidance does not specify that a landlord’s own allergy counts as grounds for refusal), if the property is too small for a large pet or multiple pets, if the pet is illegal to own, or if a leaseholder’s freeholder does not allow pets.

However, the government guidance says landlords cannot refuse a request if they do not like pets, have had issues with tenants who had pets in the past, or had previous tenants with pets who caused damage to the property.