"Pets bring a huge amount of joy and comfort to people's lives...so it's a shame that thousands of animal-loving tenants and their children can't experience this." - Robert Jenrick MP.

Revised model tenancy agreement will make renting with pets easier

The government has announced it will be revising the model tenancy contracts, removing restrictions on well behaved pets and improving the renting process for responsible pet owners.

Currently, only around seven per cent of landlords advertise homes as suitable for pets and with more young people and families renting than ever before, a substantial portion of the population struggle to find a home for themselves and their pets.

It is common for people to have to give up their pets entirely if they move into a rented property which does not allow them.

“Pets bring a huge amount of joy and comfort to people’s lives, helping their owner’s through difficult times and improving their mental and physical wellbeing,” said Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP.

“It’s a shame that thousands of animal-loving tenants and their children can’t experience this because they rent their homes instead of owning property.

“So, I’m overhauling our model tenancy contract to encourage more landlords to consider opening their doors to responsible pet owners. And we will be listening to tenants and landlords to see what more we can do to tackle this issue in a way that is fair to both.”

The government emphasised the importance of protecting properties from damage by badly behaved pets. But asserted that completely banning pets for tenants should only be necessary in certain circumstances, such as in flats or smaller properties where owning a pet could be impractical.

The national model tenancy agreement can be used as a basis for lease agreements. It outlines the minimum requirements and landlords are able to alter it to cater to specific circumstances. The government has confirmed that it will publish a revised model tenancy agreement this year.