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Last reviewed: 17 April 2026 · Spot something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Leaseholders

Can my tenant have a pet?
The answer is in your lease.

From 1 May 2026 tenants gain a statutory right to request a pet. But your head lease may prohibit pets without freeholder consent. If you say yes without that consent, you are in breach of your lease, not them.

Renters' Rights Act 2025

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. The assured-tenant pet provisions (new s.16A Housing Act 1988) are expected to commence on 1 May 2026 by commencement regulations. Check the current in-force status before relying on the date. legislation.gov.uk
. Tenant pet rights live from 1 May 2026.

Check my lease with LEASE-iQ →

This guide is for information only, not legal advice. Building Trust is a technology platform, not a law firm. Always take professional advice before acting on anything here.

⚠️ The exact conflict: what the Renters' Rights Act 2025 creates

The new law (from 1 May 2026)

Tenants have a statutory right to request a pet. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. They can require pet insurance. But they cannot just say no without good reason.

Your head lease (may say)

"No animals, birds or pets shall be kept in the flat without the prior written consent of the landlord." Your lease is between you and your freeholder. Your tenant has no contract with them.

The trap

You say yes to your tenant (because the RRA says you should). You don't get freeholder consent. You are now in breach of your head lease. Forfeiture risk. Your tenant is not liable. You are.

Which situation are you in?

Leaseholder subletting or SoF director?
Different problem, same tool.

🏠

I'm a leaseholder: my tenant wants a pet

Your tenant has requested a pet under the Renters' Rights Act. You want to say yes but you're not sure what your head lease says. If you get it wrong, the liability is yours, not your tenant's.

What to check
→ Does your head lease prohibit pets?
→ If so, is freeholder consent required, or is it an absolute prohibition?
→ Can the freeholder unreasonably withhold consent?
→ What's the process and is there a fee?
Check my lease now →
🏢

I'm an RTM/SoF director: a leaseholder's tenant has a pet

A leaseholder in your building has a tenant with a pet. No consent was sought. Your lease says no pets without consent. You need to know what you can actually do about it, and whether you have to enforce it.

What to check
→ Is the pet covenant
A covenant is a binding obligation in your lease. Pet covenants typically restrict or prohibit keeping animals. They may be absolute (no pets at all) or qualified (pets allowed with landlord consent, which cannot be unreasonably withheld).
 an absolute prohibition or qualified?
→ Do you have a duty to enforce it or just a right?
→ What enforcement options exist? A Section 146 notice
Section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925 is the statutory pre-cursor to forfeiture. Before a landlord can forfeit a long residential lease for breach of covenant (other than non-payment of rent), they must serve a s.146 notice specifying the breach, requiring remedy (if capable of remedy), and usually requiring compensation. For long residential leases, the breach must first be admitted by the leaseholder or determined by the First-tier Tribunal under s.168 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
 (as pre-cursor to forfeiture) or an injunction
A court order requiring the leaseholder to stop the breach (prohibitory) or take steps to remedy it (mandatory). Often a more proportionate remedy than forfeiture for pet covenant breaches, because courts are reluctant to end a lease over a pet.
 in the county court are the two main routes.
→ Does the RRA 2025 create any obligation on you as freeholder?
Check enforcement rights →
Self-check: before you ask LEASE-iQ

What does your lease actually say about pets?

If you can find the pet clause yourself, this tool interprets it. If you can't find it, use LEASE-iQ to locate it in seconds, not days.

Pet clause checker
Get the full answer

Two ways to check your specific lease.

Path A: Read it yourself

How to find the pet clause

Search for: "animal", "pet", "dog", "cat", "bird". These are usually in the leaseholder covenants section (often called "The Second Schedule" or "Leaseholder's Obligations").
Absolute prohibition: "shall not keep any animal or pet". No pets, period. Full stop. Breaching this is a lease breach regardless of the RRA.
Qualified covenant
Where a lease requires the landlord\'s consent for pets, the landlord cannot unreasonably withhold that consent. This is a qualified covenant. What counts as \'reasonable\' depends on the specific circumstances.
: "shall not keep any pet without the prior written consent of the landlord". You can apply for consent. Can it be unreasonably withheld? Check for "not to be unreasonably withheld" wording.
Nothing found: Silence in the lease does not mean permission. Check the general "use" covenants. "Use only as a private dwellinghouse" has been interpreted in some cases to restrict pets that cause nuisance.
Path B: Use LEASE-iQ (seconds, not days)

Copy this prompt → paste into LEASE-iQ

My tenant has requested a pet under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Using the lease I have uploaded, please tell me: (1) Is there a pet or animal covenant in this lease? Quote the exact clause. (2) Is it an absolute prohibition or a qualified one requiring consent? (3) If consent is required, can it be unreasonably withheld? Quote the relevant wording. (4) Is there a process or fee for applying for consent? (5) What is the consequence of a breach: does the lease reference forfeiture or other remedies for keeping an unauthorised pet?
Open LEASE-iQ → paste the prompt →

Paste LEASE-iQ's answer back to your tenant or your solicitor

Check before 1 May 2026.

The Renters' Rights Act pet provisions are live from 1 May 2026. If you have tenants, or are about to take one, check your lease now before a request lands.

Check my lease for pet clauses →
Next steps

Four ways to take this further.

Free to read on. Free to test against your lease. Free to ask the bot. Or paid, if you want us to write the letter for you.

Free guides · 60+ pages Keep reading. We have a guide for that. Service charge, S20, demand validity, lease extension, take-control routes, director compliance. Plain English, statute links. Browse all guides → LEASE-iQ · Free trial Test your lease. First question free. Upload your lease, ask one question, get a clause-cited answer. No card required. Try LEASE-iQ free → Talk to us · From £50 Send your case. We write the letter. Pick your situation, send your lease and a voice note. 24 hours later: clause-cited brief and a ready-to-send letter. £50 / £225 / £550. Pick your situation →
Ask LEASE-iQ · Free Got a question? Type it here. The Building Trust assistant routes you to the right guide, explains a clause, or starts a LEASE-iQ session.
Next steps

You want a pet. Your lease is a patchwork. What now?

Pet clauses have shifted in the last five years. These are the three moves that matter today.

⚖

Your rights

The Renters Rights Act and the unreasonable-refusal tests mean more than they used to. Know where you stand.

Read the rights guide →
Use this if your lease requires consent

Draft request: consent to keep a pet

If your lease prohibits pets without freeholder consent, this is the letter that puts the request on the record. Section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988 means consent should not be unreasonably withheld where the lease requires it. Putting the request in writing creates the paper trail you would need at tribunal if it is refused without reason.

Dear [Freeholder / Managing Agent name],
Re: Request for written consent to keep a pet at [flat address]
I am writing under [clause reference, e.g. Clause 4.2(b)] of my lease to request your written consent to keep [a small dog / a cat / etc.] at the above flat. The pet is [breed, age, weight, vaccination status] and I confirm the following:
- I will be responsible for any damage caused to the demised premises or common parts.
- I will keep the pet under control in the common parts at all times.
- I will arrange suitable arrangements for noise and waste.
- I will provide proof of pet insurance if requested.
I am happy to provide any further information you reasonably require to consider the request.
Where consent is required under the lease, section 19(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988 provides that consent should not be unreasonably withheld and that you must give a decision within a reasonable time, with reasons if refused. Please confirm your decision in writing within [21 / 28] days.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Date]
Not sure whether your lease requires consent or prohibits pets outright? Upload your lease to LEASE-iQ and ask "What does my lease say about keeping pets?" The first question is free.

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