The Personal Case for Pet-Friendly Lettings
As someone who grew up surrounded by domestic animals, I’ve experienced firsthand the mental and physical wellbeing benefits that pets provide. This personal perspective has shaped my approach as a landlord—I’ve found that responsible pet owners often translate into responsible tenants.
My own experience proves this point. When I allowed a tenant to keep a pet, that animal became the deciding factor in an extended tenancy lasting several years. The tenant renewed repeatedly, grateful to avoid the struggle of finding another pet-friendly property. In return, I benefited from a reliable, long-term tenant and avoided the costly void periods that typically occur between tenancies.
Despite this positive experience, I remain unconvinced that legislation simply ‘banning’ landlords from refusing pets is workable in practice.
Understanding Jasmine’s Law
The Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill—known as Jasmine’s Law—was introduced in October 2020 with a straightforward aim: to eradicate “no pet” clauses in tenancy agreements by making them legally ‘unfair’. The intended outcome is to improve housing prospects for existing pet owners.
Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who proposed the bill, has acknowledged it’s not without limitations, telling the National Residential Landlords Association: “The bill will include measures to ensure that pets are suitable for the type of accommodation.”
What those measures might entail, however, remains unclear.
The Unanswered Questions
The devil is in the details, and numerous practical concerns need addressing before this legislation can function effectively:
Property suitability: Will the bill establish parameters for matching pet size to property size? How should this be assessed?
Proving responsibility: Will occupiers need to demonstrate they’re ‘responsible and caring’ pet owners before a landlord’s obligation to accept the pet applies? More importantly, how can a landlord or agent properly determine responsibility when the pet doesn’t yet exist?
Changing circumstances: How will the legislation address situations where a landlord consents to one specific animal, only to discover the tenant has replaced it with a different pet—or multiple pets?
Leasehold complications: In multi-tenanted blocks, restrictive covenants typically require landlords to ensure all residents comply with the same rules. If a neighbour complains about a tenant’s pet or claims a lease breach, will the landlord have the right to require removal of the pet to protect their position as a leaseholder?
This scenario seems particularly problematic. Debates about acceptable nuisance levels before a breach occurs appear inevitable. If landlords retain this right, tenants may face an impossible choice: give up their beloved pet or leave the property. This would perpetuate the very situation Jasmine’s Law seeks to eliminate.
Essential Screening Questions
To make pet-friendly tenancies workable, certain fundamental questions must be answered before landlords consider allowing pets:
Basic information:
- What type and breed of pet do you have?
- How long have you owned your pet?
- How old is the pet?
Legal and medical compliance:
- Has the pet been spayed or neutered (if applicable)?
- Is the pet microchipped or does it wear identification (if applicable)?
- Is the pet insured?
- Is the pet legally allowed to be kept in the United Kingdom?
- Is the pet registered with a local veterinarian and/or local authority (if applicable)?
History and behaviour:
- Has there been any damage caused or complaints made about your pet at your current address? If so, provide details.
- Does your pet have any medical or behavioural problems? If so, what treatment or training are you using?
Ongoing care:
- Who will care for your pet during holidays or medical emergencies?
- Can you provide a written reference for your pet from your current landlord?
The Problem of Honest Disclosure
Here lies a critical weakness: questions about previous damage, complaints, or behavioural problems are unlikely to receive frank and honest responses on every occasion. What recourse does the bill propose when tenants aren’t truthful?
This enforcement gap could undermine the entire framework, leaving landlords exposed to undisclosed risks.
Looking Ahead
Far more questions need answering before this legislative change can become practical reality. The scheduled second reading should allow MPs to debate these concerns thoroughly.
Nevertheless, momentum appears to be building. The new Government-recommended Model Tenancy Agreement already sets consent for pets as the default position, suggesting that pet-friendly lettings are becoming the expected norm rather than the exception.
The challenge now is ensuring the legislation includes robust, practical measures that protect both tenants’ desire to keep pets and landlords’ legitimate concerns about property protection and legal liability.