Renters in England gain the right to request a pet

One of the quieter but more meaningful welfare changes of 2026 is now in effect: under the Renters' Rights Act, private tenants in England have a legal right to request to keep a pet, and landlords are no longer able to refuse unreasonably. Landlords are required to respond to a request within a set period, and can ask a tenant to hold pet insurance to cover any damage.

Why does a housing law belong on a welfare page? Because "no pets" tenancy clauses have long been one of the most common reasons animals are given up to rescues — a rehoming driven not by anything the animal did, but by where its owner happened to live. Making it easier for responsible tenants to keep their dogs and cats keeps more animals in the homes they already have, which is almost always the best outcome for the animal.

As ever, the detail matters: a request still has to be made and agreed, and the rules differ across the UK's nations. Anyone renting with a pet, or hoping to, should check the current guidance for where they live before relying on it.