The government will revise its model tenancy contracts to remove restrictions on well behaved pets.
The government has overhauled its model tenancy contracts to make it easier for responsible tenants to have well behaved pets in their homes.
The contracts for renters, which can be used as the basis of lease agreements made with tenants, will now be revised to remove restrictions on well behaved pets.
The government said there should be a balance with responsible pet owners not being penalised and landlords being more flexible in their approach.
The government emphasised the importance of landlord’s properties being protected from damage by badly behaved pets.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “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 well-being.
“So, 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.
“This is part of this new government’s mission to improve life for tenants, recognising that more are renting and for longer in life.
“We’ve already taken action, banning unfair letting fees and capping tenancy deposits, saving tenants across England at least £240m a year, and I will continue to take more steps to secure a better deal for renters up and down the country.”
The government announced that total bans on renters with pets should only be implemented where there is good reason, such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical.
