A pet request, from asking to the written answer
The tenant asks, the landlord side answers in writing within 28 days, or asks for more information first.
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Under the Renters' Rights Act a tenant can ask to keep a pet, and the landlord must answer in writing. This guide shows the timeline and who does what.
Who this is for: letting agencies, landlords and tenants.
Pet requests: agree, refuse with a reason, or ask for more information.
What you are deciding
For the landlord side: whether to agree, refuse with a reason, or ask for more information first.
Your options
- Agree. Record the decision. The tenant is sent it in writing.
- Refuse. Give a written reason. The landlord may not refuse unreasonably.
- Ask for more information. Ask within 28 days; the answer is then due 7 days after the tenant replies.
The journey at a glance
| When | Step | Who | The law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The tenant asks, in writing, in the portal | Tenant | Housing Act 1988 s.16A |
| By day 28 | A written answer, or a request for more information | Landlord side | s.16A |
| 7 days after the tenant replies | The written answer, if more information was asked for | Landlord side | s.16A |
What each party does
Tenant
- Ask in your portal under Pets, describing the pet.
- If asked for more information, reply in the portal. You are nudged on the day, then 4 and 11 days late.
- You are sent the decision in writing.
Letting agency or landlord
- Read the request when it arrives. The due date is on it.
- Agree, refuse with a reason, or ask for more information before the due date.
- Where the landlord's head lease or superior landlord must consent, record that and its date.
When Abide.Rent reminds whom
- The landlord side: 7 days before, then 1, 7 and 14 days late the due date.
- The tenant: told in writing at each step.
A worked example
A tenant asks to keep a dog on Monday 2 November 2026. A written answer is due by Sunday 29 November. The agent asks for the dog's details on Wednesday 11 November, and the tenant replies on Wednesday 18 November 2026. The answer is now due 7 days later, by Wednesday 25 November. The landlord agrees on Monday 23 November, and the tenant is sent the decision that day.
What Abide.Rent does for you
- Works out the due date, and moves it when more information is asked for and received.
- Sends the tenant each step in writing.
- Records the request, the deadline and the answer. It does not decide whether a refusal is reasonable.
If something goes wrong
- The due date is past and no answer was given
What to do: Give the written answer now and record it. The request shows as overdue until you do. - The tenant has not replied to a request for more information
What to do: The decision is not due until 7 days after their reply. Abide.Rent nudges the tenant.
Common mistakes
- Asking for more information after the 28 days have passed. Ask before the due date.
- Refusing without a written reason.
What to do next
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