Government plans to stop landlords imposing blanket bans on keeping pets in private rented accommodation in England have been welcomed.

Proposals contained ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ outline a legislative commitment “to ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision”.

Move welcomed

The UK Government has already published model tenancy agreements (MTAs) that encourage allowing pets to be the default position in England’s rented sector, unless landlords have a justifiable reason for not allowing them to do so. However, the latest change would put the plans into law – a move welcomed by the RSPCA.

NOAH has also welcomed the announcement to legislate on the issue. The move would cover all rental properties, which was not the case with MTAs.

The paper also proposes a change in the law to allow a landlord to ask that pet damage insurance is held, allowing landlords to better protect themselves against any potential damage caused to their property by pets.