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.
This page is intentionally about the timetable after a pet request has been made. It should help tenants document the request date, any follow-up information request, the landlord's final response, and whether the handling itself looks unreasonable.
The broader pet-rights page explains the right to request and reasonable refusal. This page answers the procedural search intent: how long the landlord has, what can extend the timetable, and what to record if they miss it.
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 the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, read Section 21 transition rules.
- For the dates, forms, and evidence behind legacy Section 21 notice rules, see Section 21 deposit protection prescribed information validity before you respond.
- If this issue overlaps with the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, check Section 21 validity guides to compare the legal tests.
- For a fuller breakdown of the post-1 May 2026 reform framework, use legacy Section 21 checker for the underlying rule set.
- If you need the route-specific rules on pet request rights, start with pet request letter guide 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. - Assistance dog in rented property
Assistance dogs in rented property: pet request rules, disability context, reasonable refusal, evidence, and when tenants should get advice. - Old rules vs new rules after May 2026
The side-by-side transition guide for Section 21, Section 8, rent increases, and periodic tenancies after 1 May 2026. - Renters' Rights Act 2026: complete guide
The main reform guide covering Section 21 abolition, Section 8, rent increases, pets, and private rented sector enforcement changes. - Rent increase rules in England
The split between pre-1 May 2026 and post-1 May 2026 section 13 rules, including Form 4, Form 4A, notice periods, and tribunal rights.
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.