What should a pet request letter to a landlord include?

A good pet request letter does five things: it asks plainly for consent to keep the animal at the property, identifies the animal, gives the landlord reasons to say yes, cites the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 once, and names a reply date 28 days out. In England the landlord must give or refuse consent in writing within 28 days and must not refuse unreasonably. UK ESA Register’s Landlord Pet Request Kit, €58 (about £49), produces this letter with your details filled in, and the free template is the same letter.

What to include

1. Your name, the property address and the date. The date matters: the 28 days run from the date of the request.
2. The request, in one plain sentence. Say what you want before you say why you are allowed to ask.
3. The legal basis, once. Section 16A of the Housing Act 1988, inserted by section 11 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, in force from 1 May 2026.
4. The animal. Species, breed, age, temperament, and whether it is house-trained, neutered and microchipped, with vaccinations up to date.
5. Why the home suits them. Your working pattern, walks, outside space, and how you would handle noise.
6. Any history of renting with the animal, and a previous landlord willing to confirm it.
7. A reply date, 28 days from the date of the letter, written as a date and not as a threat.

What to leave out

• An offer of pet insurance. A clause letting landlords require it was removed from the Bill before it passed.
• An offer of a bigger deposit. Deposits are capped by the Tenant Fees Act 2019, with no pet exception.
• A claim that silence means yes. The Act contains no deemed consent.

England only: the pet provisions do not extend to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Related

• Pet request letter template for landlords in England (free)
• How to write a Pet CV a landlord will actually read
• How do I ask my landlord for permission to keep a pet in England?