How do the new laws about pets for tenants work?

Posted by C_ReadsBooks@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 17 comments

I have moved to the UK recently and I want to bring my pets over soon. I saw a recent change has been made to tenancy laws regarding pets. If I moved into a place that is currently a “no pet” place, and then later wanted to bring my pets over to live there and they reasonably could, what are my rights? I’ve found it confusing to understand, thank you!

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Earth_Abound@reddit

nothing changed. it’s waffle.

now looking at adverts - they say no pets, yet the big talk leading up was that landlords won’t be allowed to refuse people with pets. so complete fallacy. it’s just small print - you are allowed to request a pet! since when were you not allowed to” request a pet.

typical British bullshit.

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Previous_Macaroon881@reddit

I can not live without my pets!

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thecuriousiguana@reddit

At the moment it's only for new tenancies. It will be rolled out for existing tenancies next year.

Basically, they will have to have a good reason to refuse a pet.

Good reasons include them or neighbours having a serious allergy, the building itself having rules, the property being unsuitable (e.g. you want being your Great Dane into a top floor studio flat with no garden), animal welfare (e.g. you want a dog and are out 14 hours a day).

Bad reasons are "they can do damage and I don't want that", "they're messy", "I said no pets" etc.

There'll be a free appeals process.

Weirdly, they can still advertise no pets. And if you apply and have a pet they can refuse you as a tenant. The only thing they can't do is, once you're tenant, unreasonably refuse to allow you to get one on written request.

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C_ReadsBooks@reddit (OP)

Thanks, I’m really wanting to upgrade my living situation and find a longer term place than the flat I’ve arrived to, especially as I’m working now and im also a UK citizen so long term is an option, but I don’t want to limit myself that I can’t bring my pets over at all and will have to move again to do so. They’re just cats, indoors and well trained. I’m happy to pay extra deposits etc, I just want my little family members to have a home here with me too.

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thecuriousiguana@reddit

So long as you're choosing a place they can live comfortably, there shouldn't be an issue.

It's a huge and important change for people, some landlords are going to be dicks about it but the ombudsman is free

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Livid-Platypus-3020@reddit

Th cost of replacing all the carpets in a home, when a tenant has brought in a non house trained cat, will not be covered by the (limited) security deposit the landlord is permitted to take. Many landlords aren’t “being dicks” about it. They’ve been burnt before by previous tenants and they don’t want to incur the same expenses again.

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Creative_Recover@reddit

You don't have any rights as a renter to demand a no-pets landlord make allowances for you to have pets in their property. Pets are a privilage, not a right.

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odysseusnz@reddit

As the OP states in their post, the new Tenants Rights bill has just received Royal Assent and so now is law. It includes rights around pets.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-renters-rights-act-becomes-law

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C_ReadsBooks@reddit (OP)

I’m a landlord too, and actually from what I’ve learnt here - and at home - tells me this is incorrect, and is changing.

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odysseusnz@reddit

As the OP states in their post, the new Tenants Rights bill has just received Royal Assent and so now is law. It includes rights around pets.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-renters-rights-act-becomes-law

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dbxp@reddit

I think we'll have to wait for it to be tested in court as there can be a big difference between the law in theory and practice

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FamSender@reddit

Could be wrong but I think this is an English Law so if you’re moving to any of the other countries the rules might still be different.

Scottish Green Party were talking about similar in Scotland not that long ago.

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Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

1) The law hasn't actually changed yet. It has received royal ascent which means it 100% will become law, but the timetable for how and when it becomes active isn't known yet, probably 6 months to a year.

2) Landlords will still be able to refuse to let you have a pet, but they must provide a reasonable explanation within 28 days as to why they refuse.

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