Tenants with pets – new industry guide for agents
Summary
Propertymark has issued a new guide for letting agents on handling pet requests in rented homes, with practical advice on fair decision-making, record-keeping and dispute reduction. The article highlights differing rules across the UK, including new tenant rights in England under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and pet protections in Scotland under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in lettings, leasehold advice or property condition reporting may need to understand how pet permissions, deposits and inspection evidence affect tenancy risk and property management. The evolving regulatory position also has implications for compliance advice and documentation standards.
Key points
- Propertymark has published a new renting with pets guide for letting agents.
- England’s Renters’ Rights Act 2025 gives tenants a right to request a pet, with landlords required to consider requests within 28 days.
- Scottish pet protections are referenced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
- The guide stresses suitability checks, lease restrictions, inventories and regular inspections.
- Propertymark says responsible pet ownership can support longer tenancies and reduce disputes.
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