How to ask your landlord for a pet (with a template)

What the law asks for

Very little. For a private assured tenancy in England, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 says your request must be in writing and must describe the pet. That is all. There is no official form, and you do not need anyone else’s letter.

Your landlord must then give or refuse consent in writing, on or before the 28th day after your request. Within those 28 days they can reasonably ask for more information about the pet; the deadline then moves to 7 days after you provide it. If their own landlord’s consent is needed, the deadline moves to 7 days after that answer. The full timeline.

What makes a request easy to say yes to

The law sets the minimum. A good request goes further and answers the questions a landlord is likely to have before they ask them, which also avoids the extra time they get if they have to ask.

• Describe the animal properly. Species, age, size, and whether it is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and house-trained.
• Deal with the obvious worries. GOV.UK gives the size of the property and other tenants’ allergies as examples of reasons that may justify a refusal. If they do not apply, say so.
• Offer, do not concede. You can offer references or to take out pet insurance. You do not have to: in England a landlord must not require insurance, and any extra deposit counts towards the legal cap.
• Explain why it matters, if it does. For an emotional support animal, a doctor’s letter tells your landlord why the animal matters to your health.
• Ask for a written answer. The Act requires one. Keep a copy of everything, with dates.

After you send it

• If the answer is yes, GOV.UK tells landlords they cannot then change their mind or change the tenancy agreement. A further pet needs a new request.
• If the answer is no, the Act does not require a reason, though GOV.UK says the landlord should give one. If you think the refusal is unreasonable, GOV.UK says you can complain to the landlord or apply to the court.
• If there is no answer, keep your copy of the request and its date. The deadline is set by the Act.

This rule applies to private tenancies in England only. It excludes social housing, and it does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where you should still ask in writing. Renting elsewhere in the UK · council and housing association homes.