12 October 2026 · 2 min read
How do I ask my landlord for permission to keep a pet in England?
Ask in writing. Since 1 May 2026 your landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and cannot unreasonably refuse. The steps, in order.
Ask in writing, name the animal, and diary the date. Since 1 May 2026, section 11 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 gives tenants in England a statutory right to request a pet, and your landlord must give or refuse consent in writing within 28 days and must not refuse unreasonably. UK ESA Register, a private register that is not a government scheme, sells a Landlord Pet Request Kit for €58 (about £49) that writes the letter, and our free template is the same letter at no cost.
This guide covers England only. The pet provisions do not extend to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
The steps
- Write the request. Email is fine. A conversation at a viewing starts nothing, and you want a dated record.
- Identify the animal. Species, breed, age, whether it is neutered, microchipped and house-trained, and its vaccination status.
- Give the landlord enough to say yes to. What happens during your working day, outside space, and any history of renting with the animal before.
- Diary the 28th day from the date of the request, the day you send it.
- Answer follow-up questions quickly. If the landlord reasonably asks for more information within the 28 days, the deadline moves to the 7th day after you provide it.
- If the answer is no, ask for the reason in writing. A refusal has to be reasonable on the facts of your case, and a blanket “no pets” policy applied without looking at your request is hard to defend.
What the request does not need
It does not need an emotional support animal certificate. This right belongs to you as a tenant, whether or not your pet is described as an emotional support animal, and a certificate from us or anyone else adds nothing to the legal position.
Your landlord also cannot require pet insurance or take a bigger deposit for a pet. Both are covered in Can a landlord require pet insurance or a bigger deposit in England?
Where to read more
Read next
- How long does a landlord have to reply to a pet request in England?28 days, in writing, from the date of your request. Two things can add 7 days, and silence is not consent. What happens on day 29.
- Renting with a cat in England: what landlords ask, and how to answerCats are the easier request, and landlords still say no. The five concerns behind a refusal, and how to write one a landlord can say yes to.
- How much does an ESA certificate cost in the UK?A UK ESA Register entry costs €41, paid once, and is current for 18 months. It is a private certificate with no legal status.