Pet Friendly Rentals in London New
Last updated: 26 August 2026 | Written by Corrina Pinsent — London Relocation expert with first-hand experience of the city’s rental market.
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
Hero image — a dog or cat in a London rental home
Looking for pet-friendly rentals in London with a dog, cat or other furry member of the family?
The good news is that renting with pets became considerably easier in England in 2026!
Since 1 May 2026, tenants in most private assured tenancies have had a legal right to ask to keep a pet. Landlords must consider the request properly and cannot refuse without a fair reason.
That does not mean every London flat suddenly comes with an open-door policy for Labradors, Maine Coons and miniature dachshunds. The property, the animal and the rules of the building still matter.
But the days of a landlord simply saying “no pets, ever” without considering the individual request are much harder to justify.
The short answer
Finding pet-friendly rentals in London is easier in 2026, thanks to new rules giving tenants stronger rights to request a pet. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a written request, but building restrictions and property suitability can still affect the decision. This guide explains your rights, the best areas for pet owners, and how to make your application easier to say yes to.
For anyone relocating to London with a pet, the trick is to combine three things:
- Know your rights.
- Make your pet easy to say yes to.
- Search in the right places from the beginning.
And preferably do all three before falling hopelessly in love with a flat that has a perfect kitchen, a perfect commute and a headlease that says absolutely no dogs.
If you are new to renting here, you may also want to read our Ultimate Guide to Renting in London 2026.
Can landlords refuse pets in London in 2026?
Yes — but they need a fair reason. Under the current rules, a tenant can ask their landlord in writing for permission to keep a pet. The request should include a description of the animal.
The landlord will normally have 28 days to reply in writing and cannot unreasonably refuse the request.
If they need reasonable additional information about your pet, they can ask for it. The deadline may then be extended while that information is provided.
There can also be extra time where permission is needed from a superior landlord or freeholder.
In other words, this is no longer simply about whether your landlord happens to be a dog person.
What is a reasonable reason to refuse a pet?
Every request should be considered individually.
A landlord may have a reasonable case for saying no if, for example:
- The freeholder or superior lease prevents pets from being kept in the building.
- The property is genuinely unsuitable for the particular animal.
- There is a serious allergy, health, safety or welfare issue affecting another occupant.
- Keeping that particular animal would be unlawful.
A Great Dane in a tiny studio with no sensible way to meet its needs is clearly a different proposition from a house-trained miniature dachshund in a garden flat.
What is much harder to justify is a blanket response along the lines of:
“I don’t allow pets because I don’t like pets.”
Or:
“A previous tenant’s dog damaged the carpet, so I never accept animals.”
The current rules expect landlords to look at the animal and the property in front of them.
Insider note from our team
The important question is not simply “Does the landlord allow pets?” It is “Can this particular pet live in this particular property?” A landlord may be happy with your dog while the building’s headlease says otherwise. Checking that early can save a lot of wasted time.
What changed under the Renters’ Rights Act?
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduced major changes to private renting in England, with the main tenancy reforms taking effect on 1 May 2026.
For pet owners, the important change is simple:
You now have a legal right to request permission to keep a pet, and your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.
That is an important distinction from older advice online, which often says that accepting a pet is entirely at a landlord’s discretion.
If you’re reading an article written before May 2026, check the date before relying on it.
What if I haven’t signed the tenancy yet?
This is particularly important for people relocating to London.
If you are still searching for a property, be open about your pet before signing the tenancy.
The formal statutory process applies once you have a relevant tenancy, so prospective tenants should not assume that the same 28-day process protects them while they are still negotiating for a property.
In practice, being upfront is usually the better strategy anyway.
Nobody wants to collect the keys on Friday and announce the arrival of a 30kg Labrador on Saturday.
How to find a pet-friendly property to rent in London
The law helps. A good application helps even more.
When we search for pet-friendly property to rent in London, we do not just look for listings with a “pets allowed” filter.
Those filters can be useful, but London renting is rarely that black and white.
A landlord who has not advertised a property as pet-friendly may still say yes to the right tenant and the right animal. At the same time, a listing saying “pets considered” does not guarantee that your particular pet will be accepted.
Here are some steps to make the conversation easier.
1. Tell the landlord about your pet properly
Start with the information they actually need.
Your request should include:
- Name
- Type of animal and breed, where relevant
- Age
- Approximate size and weight
- Temperament
- Training
- Previous experience living in rented accommodation
Keep it straightforward.
You are not writing your dog’s autobiography. You’re helping someone make a decision.
2. Answer the questions landlords are already thinking about
Most landlords are not lying awake at night worrying about “pet ownership” as an abstract concept.
They’re wondering:
- Will it damage the flat?
- Will it bark?
- Will the neighbours complain?
- Will the place smell?
- What happens when the tenant moves out?
Answer those questions before they become objections.
If your dog is house-trained, say so.
If your cat lives indoors, say so.
If your pet has lived happily in a rented flat for the last four years without complaints, definitely say so.
Specifics are far more persuasive than:
“Don’t worry, he’s really good.”
Every dog owner in London has said that sentence at some point.
3. Get a reference for your pet
A previous landlord reference can make a big difference.
If possible, ask your former landlord to confirm that your pet lived at the property without causing unreasonable damage, noise or complaints.
A short reference is enough.
You can also include supporting information from a dog walker, trainer or pet sitter if it is relevant.
The aim is not to overwhelm the landlord with paperwork. It is to remove uncertainty.
4. Create a simple pet CV
Yes, a pet CV is a thing. And yes, it can work surprisingly well. Something like this is enough:
Add a good photograph.
Not a passport photo. Milo is not applying for a mortgage.
A relaxed picture that shows a healthy, well-cared-for pet does the job.
5. Ask about the building rules early
This is one of the biggest traps when renting with pets in London.
Your landlord can be perfectly happy with your dog while the freeholder, superior lease or building rules say otherwise.
Ask the agent early:
The question to ask
“Are there any headlease, freeholder or building restrictions that would prevent my pet from living here?”
That one question can save a lot of wasted time.
It is particularly important with leasehold flats and large apartment buildings.
6. Get the yes in writing
A casual:
“Oh, the dog should be fine.”
is not enough.
Make sure permission is confirmed in writing and, where appropriate, reflected in the tenancy documentation.
Future-you will be glad you did.
Pet request email template
Here is a simple template you can adapt for your own pet and property.
Subject: Request for permission to keep a pet at [property address]
Dear [Landlord/Agent name],
I am writing to request permission to keep my [type of pet], [pet’s name], at [property address].
[Pet’s name] is a [age]-year-old [breed/type], weighing approximately [weight]. [He/She/They] is [house-trained/indoor-only/trained as appropriate] and has previously lived successfully in rented accommodation.
I would be happy to provide:
- A reference from my previous landlord
- Details of training, where relevant
- Veterinary information
- A pet CV and photograph
- Any other reasonable information you need to assess the request
I understand the importance of preventing damage, nuisance or disturbance and will remain responsible for my pet’s behaviour and for any damage for which I am legally liable under the tenancy.
Please also let me know if there are any superior lease, freeholder or building restrictions that need to be checked.
I would be grateful if you could confirm your decision in writing.
Kind regards,
[Name]
[Telephone]
[Email]
Does renting with a pet cost more?
This is another area where old advice online can be confusing.
A landlord cannot simply add a separate extra pet deposit on top of the normal tenancy deposit. The normal deposit limits still apply.
For annual rents below £50,000, the maximum tenancy deposit is generally five weeks’ rent.
For annual rents between £50,000 and £100,000, it is generally six weeks’ rent.
Calling an additional payment a “pet deposit” does not make it exempt from those rules.
Can a landlord charge a pet fee?
A landlord cannot simply add a mandatory separate pet fee that is not one of the permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act.
So if a property is advertised at one rent and you are then presented with an extra compulsory monthly “dog charge”, ask questions.
You should always be clear on the total advertised rent before agreeing to a property.
Can my landlord make me buy pet insurance?
No. A landlord cannot make purchasing insurance a compulsory additional payment as part of your tenancy.
You can of course choose to take out pet insurance voluntarily if you want the protection.
Can my landlord increase the rent because I have a pet?
A landlord cannot simply invent an immediate monthly pet surcharge during an existing tenancy.
Under the current rules for assured periodic tenancies, rent increases must follow the statutory process. They are generally limited to once a year, cannot take place in the first year of a new tenancy and require at least two months’ notice.
If you think a proposed increase is above market rent, there is also a process for challenging it.
The simplest rule of thumb?
If someone asks you to pay something extra because you have a pet, get the full amount and the reason in writing before agreeing to anything.
Best areas in London for dogs and pet owners
There is no official league table showing which London postcode has the highest percentage of pet-friendly landlords. And frankly, anyone claiming to know that Battersea is exactly 37% more dog-friendly than Greenwich deserves a suspicious look.
What we can look at is what makes an area practical for pet owners:
- Green space
- Access to parks and walking routes
- Larger flats and houses
- Garden flats
- Modern rental developments with clear pet policies
- Transport and lifestyle
Based on those factors, these are some of the areas we regularly consider for clients moving with pets.
The rents below are ONS average one-bedroom rents for the relevant borough in July 2026, rather than asking rents for one specific development.
Rents are ONS average one-bedroom rents for the relevant borough in July 2026, rather than asking rents for a specific development. Borough averages are useful for comparison, but the actual rent and pet policy will depend on the property.
For dog owners in particular, Battersea, Richmond, Hampstead and Greenwich are usually among the first places we consider if green space matters alongside budget and commute.
See also our neighborhood and area guides.
Finding letting agents and landlords that accept pets
This is where real local knowledge becomes much more useful than ticking a filter on a property portal.
A property advertised as “pets considered” may still turn your particular animal down.
A property with no mention of pets may turn out to have a perfectly reasonable landlord who is happy to consider your application.
We therefore prefer to ask the question directly.
London Relocation team intelligence
Editor: real client example needed
[AGENCY / DEVELOPMENT / LANDLORD] – [AREA]
EXAMPLE FROM LONDON RELOCATION NEEDED. During our searches in 2026, we have successfully placed clients with [dogs/cats/both] in properties through [NAME].
If you would rather not spend your first week in London phoning agents and asking the same question 25 times, our Accompanied Home Search can include your pet requirements from the very beginning.
Bringing a pet to London from overseas
If you’re relocating internationally, finding a pet-friendly flat is only one half of the equation.
You also need to get your pet into Great Britain correctly.
Dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain must follow the government’s current pet travel rules.
Depending on where you are travelling from, this can include:
- Travelling on an approved route
- Microchipping
- Rabies vaccination
- The correct pet travel documentation
- A rabies blood test for pets arriving from certain countries
- Tapeworm treatment for some dogs
Your pet must normally be microchipped before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination.
After a first rabies vaccination, the minimum wait before travel is at least 21 full days, although it can be longer depending on the vaccine or country of origin.
This is one area where we strongly recommend going straight to the source.
Before booking a flight, ferry or train, check the current GOV.UK guidance for bringing a pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain.
Border rules are not the place for a “we read it on a blog six months ago and it should probably be fine” approach.
Frequently asked questions about pet-friendly rentals in London (FAQ)
Can a landlord refuse a pet in London in 2026?
Yes, but landlords of relevant private assured tenancies cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant’s written request to keep a pet.
They should consider the individual animal and property.
A refusal may be reasonable, for example, if the freeholder prohibits the animal or the property is genuinely unsuitable.
How long does a landlord have to respond to a pet request?
Normally 28 days from receiving the written request.
The deadline can be extended in certain situations, including where the landlord reasonably asks for more information or needs consent from a superior landlord.
Do I need to tell a landlord about my pet before I move in?
Yes, we strongly recommend it.
If you are still looking for a property, tell the agent or landlord about the pet before signing.
If you already have a relevant tenancy and want to keep a pet, make the request in writing.
Can a landlord charge an extra deposit for a dog?
Not beyond the normal legal tenancy-deposit cap.
A landlord cannot simply add a separate pet deposit on top.
Can a landlord charge more rent for a pet?
A landlord cannot simply add an undisclosed compulsory pet fee.
For an existing assured periodic tenancy, rent increases must follow the normal statutory process rather than being added as an immediate pet surcharge.
Can my landlord make me buy pet insurance?
No. Insurance cannot be made a compulsory additional tenant payment.
You are free to purchase it voluntarily.
What are the best areas in London for dogs?
Battersea, Richmond, Hampstead and Greenwich are all worth considering because they combine residential rental options with strong access to green space.
The right answer will also depend on your commute, budget, dog’s size and whether you need a garden, lift or easy access outside.
Are pet-friendly flats harder to find in central London?
Central London tends to have more flats, smaller homes and leasehold buildings where freeholder or headlease rules may affect pet ownership.
That does not mean you cannot find a pet-friendly central London property — only that checking the building rules early becomes even more important.
Ready to find a pet-friendly rental in London?
Finding the right home in London is already a fairly impressive juggling act.
Add a commute, a budget, a preferred neighbourhood, a move-in date and a pet who has opinions about outdoor space, and the search becomes a little more specialised.
The good news is that renters with pets have stronger rights in 2026 than they did before.
Be upfront about your animal. Put together a simple pet CV. Get references where you can. Check the building rules early. And focus on properties where your lifestyle and your pet actually make sense.
Because the goal isn’t just to find a landlord who reluctantly says yes.
It’s to find a London home that works for everyone moving into it — including the one with the tail.
Your London home search
Looking for pet-friendly rentals in London? Explore our Accompanied Home Search and let us build your pet, commute, budget and lifestyle into the search from day one!
Sources
This guide draws on government guidance and official rental statistics. Check current guidance before making legal, financial or pet-travel decisions.