Thank you for contacting me about pets in rental accommodation. 

Pets make excellent companions and are an important part of the lives of millions of people across the country. 

That is why I am delighted as a fellow pet owner the Government has called on landlords to make it easier for responsible tenants in the rented sector to have pets in their homes. 

A model tenancy agreement has been published that can be used for lease agreements to remove restrictions on responsible tenants with well-behaved pets. Under the model agreement, consent for pets will be the default position, and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason. It is important to keep in mind that landlords have the right to protect their properties from damage and are required to comply with health and safety standards, meaning they may not allow pets in all cases. 

Landlords can benefit from making their property open to tenants with pets, as this can encourage increased demand, lead to longer tenancies and attract more responsible owners.