Renting with dogs
Can a landlord refuse to let you have a dog?
In most of the UK and US, yes. A no-pets clause is common in tenancy agreements and is generally enforceable. In England and Wales, the model tenancy agreement defaults to allowing pets since 2021, and landlords who refuse must give a written reason within 28 days. But they can still refuse on reasonable grounds. Service animals are protected by law in both countries.
The English and Welsh position
In England and Wales, the government's model tenancy agreement has included a default permission for pets since 2021. This does not mean landlords must allow pets. It means the starting position is that they are allowed unless the landlord objects. If a tenant requests a pet, the landlord must respond within 28 days. If they refuse, the refusal must be in writing and must give a reason. Reasonable reasons include allergies of other residents, the property being unsuitable for the animal, or specific lease conditions. The change makes the refusal process more transparent but does not give tenants an absolute right to a pet.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland introduced new tenancy legislation in 2022 requiring landlords to have reasonable grounds for refusing a pet request and to respond within a defined period. The overall shift in Scotland is toward greater pet-owner rights in rentals. Northern Ireland operates under different legislation and does not have the same default-permission framework. Landlords in Northern Ireland retain broader discretion to prohibit pets without the same transparency requirement.
The US position
In the US, landlords are generally free to prohibit pets in their properties, and a no-pets clause in a lease is enforceable under the terms of the contract. There is no federal right to keep a pet in a rental property. Some cities and states have introduced local protections, but these are the exception rather than the rule. The main exception at the federal level is the Fair Housing Act, which requires landlords to accommodate assistance animals for tenants with disabilities, regardless of a no-pets policy.
How to improve your chances
Ask in writing. Propose specific terms. Offer references from previous landlords confirming no damage. Offer a clause in the tenancy agreement holding you liable for any pet-related damage. Offer a professional clean at the end of the tenancy. A specific, detailed request with proposed safeguards is much harder for a landlord to refuse than a casual verbal ask. Roch also publishes a residential dog standard for what a genuinely dog friendly home looks like. And never get the dog before the landlord has agreed in writing.