Letting to Tenants with Pets: A Landlord’s Essential Guide for 2025

NEWS
Nov 10, 2025
8 min read

Featuring the brand-new apartment project Standish Court Apartments (Apartments for Rent in Chorley)

When discussing rentals in 2025, one of the most frequently mentioned topics is pets. Landlords are asking: “Can I refuse pets?” “What if a tenant keeps a pet without permission?” “What about assistance dogs?” “What does the new Renters’ Rights Act 2025 mean for pets?” In this blog, we’ll walk you through what landlords need to know and how you might incorporate a considered pet policy when marketing properties like Standish Court Apartments in Chorley.

Located in the heart of Chorley town centre, Standish Court Apartments offers 30 self-contained one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, featuring modern finishes, a gated entrance, allocated parking, and bike storage. If you are a landlord (or are marketing your own building), it’s a great moment to think about how your pet policy may impact demand, risk, and legal compliance.

1. Can landlords refuse pets in 2025?

Short answer: They can, but with more constraints than before.

What the law currently says

According to a briefing by the House of Commons Library, if a tenancy agreement says a tenant must seek prior written consent before keeping pets, the landlord must not unreasonably withhold or delay their decision. A blanket ban on pets is not automatically enforceable.

For example, the model assured shorthold tenancy (AST) clause says:

“A Tenant must seek the prior written consent of the Landlord … A Landlord must not unreasonably withhold or delay a written request … The Landlord should accept such a request where they are satisfied the Tenant is a responsible pet-owner and the pet is of a kind that is suitable in relation to the nature of the premises.”

What’s changing (or soon will)

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (or its precursor Bill), the trends are:

Tenants will have the right to request to keep a pet in their rental home.
Landlords will be required to reasonably consider these requests rather than simply impose a blanket “no pets” policy.
A landlord can refuse, but must have valid reasons (e.g., lease prohibits pets, property unsuitable for the pet, allergies of other tenants) rather than just a blanket policy.
The timeline: various sources suggest the Act will take effect in late 2025 or early 2026.

Practical implications for Standish Court (or similar)

As the landlord (or agent) of Standish Court Apartments, you’ll want to consider the following:

If your tenancy agreement currently includes a “no pets” clause, you may soon find that this is challenged.
If you allow pets (or might), it is a marketing advantage: many renters want pet-friendly homes.
If you continue to refuse pets, ensure you have clear, documented reasons justifying refusal (e.g., lease terms from the freeholder, size of flat unsuited to a large dog, communal area restrictions).
Update your tenancy agreements and any pet-policy documentation proactively so you are prepared for the new legal environment.

2. What can a landlord do if a tenant keeps a pet without permission?

If a tenant introduces a pet without written approval (or contrary to the tenancy agreement), then you, as landlord, have options, but they must be exercised carefully.

Typical steps

First, check the tenancy agreement: has the tenant breached a term by keeping the pet?
You can issue a written notice (e.g., under the tenancy’s breach provisions) specifying that the pet must be removed (or permission sought).
If the tenant refuses, you may apply for possession under the Housing Act 1988 (e.g., Ground 12 for breach of a term). The courts will assess the circumstances.
It may also affect the deposit: you can claim for damage, odour, extra cleaning, etc, at the end of tenancy, provided you have evidence.

Key legal / risk factors

If the landlord has previously given consent for a pet, removing it can be tricky unless you reserved the right to revoke consent within the agreement.
If the lease granted to you (in a leasehold building) prohibits pets in all flats, then you may be compelled to refuse or remove a pet (because keeping a pet may breach the head-lease).
If you act to evict simply because a tenant keeps a pet without permission, you must ensure your process is lawful. Using incorrect grounds may mean the court dismisses the case. The Times article described the scenario of eviction under Section 8 for a tenant keeping a dog contrary to the terms.

Advice for Standish Court

Ensure tenancy agreements for your 30 apartments clearly address pets: the process for requesting, what is or isn’t permitted, and the landlord’s rights if the rule is breached.
Document a check-in inventory, conditions, and photographs so that any pet-related damage claim is supported.
If you accept pets, also establish rules: e.g., type/breed of pet, responsibility for cleaning communal areas, noise, damage, etc.
If a tenant keeps a pet without permission, act promptly (notify the tenant, request removal, or application for consent) rather than letting the issue persist.

3. What’s the law around renting to tenants with assistance/service dogs?

Here, the rules are stricter: a landlord’s ability to refuse is much more limited.

Key points

Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers (including landlords/letting agents) must not discriminate against people with disabilities by imposing a blanket prohibition on assistance dogs.
If a tenant with a disability requests to keep an assistance dog, a landlord must make reasonable adjustments (unless doing so would impose disproportionate cost/burden).
Even if a “no-pets” clause exists, the landlord may still be required to permit an assistance dog as a reasonable adjustment.

Implications

When marketing Standish Court Apartments, if you advertise “no pets,” you must still be mindful of assistance dogs: you cannot simply refuse someone with a legitimate assistance dog.
It’s best practice to have a policy that explicitly recognises assistance dogs and sets out how requests will be dealt with.
You may also ask for evidence (e.g., registration of the dog, letter confirming need), but must comply with data-protection and equality considerations.

4. Will the Renters’ Rights Act force landlords to accept pets?

In short, not exactly force, but it significantly changes how you must respond.

What the Act (and current commentary) say

The Act gives tenants a statutory right to request a pet. They do not automatically have the right to keep a pet in all circumstances, but landlords must not unreasonably refuse.
Blanket bans on pets (i.e., “no pets period”) are likely to become legally problematic unless there are good/valid reasons.
Timing: For example, it says landlords must respond in writing within 28 days of a written request; if more information is asked, there may be a further 7-day extension.
Although earlier drafts of the Bill proposed mandatory pet damage insurance or “pet deposits”, those provisions were later removed or amended. For instance, one amendment removed the requirement for mandatory insurance for tenants.

So, does it force you?

You will still retain the right to refuse pets, but only for good, documented reasons (e.g., lease restrictions, property unsuitability, other tenants’ allergy issues).
If you routinely refuse pets without justification, you may face challenges from tenants (through the proposed private rented sector ombudsman or court).
For landlords of properties like Standish Court, being “pet-friendly” can now be a competitive advantage, especially since many rental properties currently refuse pets and demand for pet-friendly homes is high.

5. Will landlords be permitted to take a pet deposit?

This is one of the more contested areas.

Current position

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, there are restrictions on what landlords and letting agents can charge tenants in terms of fees and additional deposits.
The Renters’ Rights Act commentary indicates that mandatory pet insurance for tenants was removed from the final amendments.
According to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) guidance, the Bill initially proposed allowing landlords to charge an additional “pet deposit” (e.g., up to three weeks’ rent), but it remains unclear whether this will be enacted.

What this means for a landlord

You should not assume you can automatically require a separate “pet deposit” unless your tenancy agreement and the relevant law allow it.
If you currently have a clause that demands, say, a specific “pet damage deposit”, you should check that it complies with deposit caps (for example, the 5-weeks’ rent cap for tenancies up to £50k) and the Tenant Fees Act.
Alternative approach: If you allow pets, you might include clauses that permit you to claim from the standard tenancy deposit (or insurance) for any pet-related damage, rather than require a separate pet deposit up-front.
Ensure your tenancy agreement is clear that any damage caused by a pet is the tenant’s responsibility, and that you will inspect and record the condition at check-in and check-out.

6. Key Takeaways & Recommendations for Landlords at Standish Court

As the owner/manager of Standish Court Apartments in Chorley (with one-, two- and three-bedroom modern flats in a town-centre location), here are some practical recommendations:

Review and update your tenancy agreement

Insert a pet-request clause: specify how a tenant may ask to keep a pet (written request, description of pet, evidence of vet/vaccination, etc).
Insert a pet-policy annex (if you allow pets) or a no-pets exceptions part (if you do not).
Avoid strict blanket bans without referencing valid reasons because the law is moving toward requiring case-by-case consideration.
For tenants with assistance dogs, include a statement explaining the process (consistent with Equality Act obligations).

Develop a pet-friendly strategy (if you choose to allow pets)

Consider marketing some of your Standish Court flats as pet-friendly: this could increase demand and reduce voids.
Ask tenants for a “pet CV” – breed/size of pet, previous landlord reference (if any), vet registration, whether pet is indoor/outdoor, etc. (This is not legally required, but good practice.)
Set rules: e.g., type of pet allowed (dog/cat/small animal), upstairs vs downstairs, communal area use, how to manage with parking/bike-storage, noise/fouling/cleaning expectations.
Consider taking out pet-damage protection insurance yourself to mitigate risk, given that the tenant may not be required to have it.

If you decide not to allow pets

Ensure you have valid documented reasons for refusing. For example: lease prohibits pets, building size/structure unsuitable, communal areas shared with non-pet-owners/allergies.
Respond to any tenant’s written pet request within 28 days (or your policy window) with your decision and reasons.
Keep consistent: if you refuse pets for one tenant, make sure you are applying the same criteria for all to avoid claims of discrimination.
In your marketing for Standish Court, you may state “pets by prior consent only” rather than “no pets whatsoever” to reflect the evolving legal landscape.

Inspect regularly & document condition

At move-in, take detailed photographs of the property (floors, walls, carpets, communal areas) and note baseline condition, especially if you allow pets.
During tenancy, you may wish to conduct periodic inspections (subject to notice) to monitor for any pet-related wear/damage.
At move-out, if there is pet-related damage, use your inventory, records, and tenancy deposit scheme to make lawful deductions.
Keep records of communications, pet-requests, responses, damage claims — especially relevant if the new ombudsman or regulatory scrutiny comes into play.

7. Why this matters for renters (and for your building marketing)

Demand for pet-friendly rentals is significant: less than 10 % of UK private rented properties currently say they allow pets.
If you position Standish Court as a modern, central-Chorley pet-friendly apartment option, you may attract pet owners who struggle to find suitable homes.
Longer tenancies: Some analyses suggest that tenants with pets are less likely to move frequently (because moving with a pet can be more disruptive), meaning lower voids, less churn.
On the flip side, unmanaged pet policies can lead to complaints (noise, mess), damage, and reputational risk — so you’ll want the right safeguards.

Conclusion

The rental landscape for pets is changing. As a landlord (or property manager) at Standish Court Apartments in Chorley, you are well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve by updating your pet policies now rather than being reactive. Whether you allow pets, vets, and what kinds you’ll want to ensure you’re compliant with evolving law (such as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025), fair in your approach, and clear in your terms.