Pet request 28 days: landlord response rule
Direct answer
GOV.UK guidance says that once a tenant asks for a pet, the landlord has 28 days to respond in writing. If the landlord asks for more information within that period, the final response deadline can shift after the tenant replies.
Use email or another written method you can prove. Ask clearly for permission to keep a named pet or pet type at the property.
If the landlord asks for more details, answer promptly and keep a copy. The landlord may then have the remainder of the original 28 days or an extra 7 days after the information is supplied, whichever is later.
If the landlord misses the deadline, write again, refer to the request date, and ask for a final decision. Get advice before bringing the pet into the property without a clear consent record.
Record when you sent the request, any follow-up questions, your replies and the landlord's final response. Keep the original messages so you can check the timetable without guessing missing dates.
Keep any reasons for refusal alongside the response dates. Use the pets guide for the right to request and the refusal guide if you need help understanding the landlord's explanation.
If the landlord asks for more information close to the deadline, reply with the information you reasonably can and keep the timestamp. If the request feels excessive or irrelevant, answer the reasonable parts and ask why the extra information is needed for the pet decision.
Legal information scope
This is legal information for private renters in England, not legal advice. Court outcomes depend on the documents, dates, evidence, and any procedural steps actually taken.
Related next steps
- Pet permission request letter
Write a clearer request before tracking the deadline. - Landlord refused pet request
Direct Q&A for refusal scenarios. - Pets guide
Main guide to pet rights and damage issues.
Related guidance inside this topic
- If your next step turns on pet request rights, read challenge a pet refusal guide.
- For the dates, forms, and evidence behind the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, see renters rights act timeline before you respond.
- If this issue overlaps with the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, check what happens after Section 21 ended to compare the legal tests.
- For a fuller breakdown of your tenancy, use Section 8 checker for the underlying rule set.
- If you need the route-specific rules on the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, start with Section 21 checker so you can check the dates and documents against your own case.
Sources used for this guide
These are primary legislation and public guidance sources that support the legal-information framework used on this page.
- Renters' Rights Act 2025
Primary reform statute referenced by these guides for the 2026 private rented sector changes in England. - GOV.UK: tenant requests to keep a pet
Government guidance on pet requests, landlord response timing, reasonable refusal, insurance, and damage.
Related articles
- Tenant rights in England: complete guide
The main overview page linking eviction, repairs, deposit protection, rent increases, and illegal eviction rights together. - Section 21 validity outcome guides
Primary Section 21 validity hub: all 72 outcome guides from the checker, grouped by deposit protection, prescribed documents, notice timing, licensing, and retaliatory eviction. - Pets in rented property: your right to request
From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives tenants in England a statutory right to request a pet. Landlords must respond reasonably. - Pet permission letter template for tenants in England
Copy or download a free pet permission request letter for private renters in England. Add your known pet details, review the draft and keep a dated copy. - Assistance dog in rented property
Assistance dogs in rented property: pet request rules, disability context, reasonable refusal, evidence, and when tenants should get advice.
Common questions
- Does silence mean the landlord agreed?
- Do not assume silence is consent. The missed deadline may help you challenge the landlord's handling, but written confirmation is safer.
- What details should I include in my request?
- Include the pet type, size, age, training, insurance, and how you will prevent damage or nuisance.
- Can the landlord refuse after asking for more information?
- Yes, but the refusal should be reasoned and based on the specific facts, not a blanket objection.
Use the interactive checker on getrentersrights.com for the full step-by-step result.
