Government Considers Giving Leaseholders the Right to Keep Pets

The government is considering giving leaseholders greater rights to keep pets in their homes. The move follows the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, which gives tenants the legal right to request permission for a pet and prevents landlords from unreasonably refusing those requests.

However, leaseholders remain bound by strict lease clauses that can ban pets entirely, even when they own the lease to their property. Ministers have now confirmed the issue is being considered as part of the government’s wider leasehold reform agenda.

This article looks at what the government has said and how the pet ownership reforms may be taken forward.

How Soon Could UK Leaseholders Get the Right to Keep Pets?

The government is currently reviewing whether leaseholders in England should be given stronger rights to keep pets, but no timeline has been set for when — or if — any changes will be introduced.

The issue was raised in Parliament by Liberal Democrat MP Monica Harding, who asked whether ministers planned to bring forward legislation to stop leasehold agreements from imposing blanket bans on pets.

Responding for the government, Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook confirmed that the proposal is being considered as part of wider leasehold and commonhold reform work, but stopped short of committing to specific reforms or dates. For the time being, he stated that leaseholders remain bound by the terms of their lease agreements.

Where a lease restricts pets, leaseholders generally need the freeholder’s consent before keeping an animal in the property. This means many flat owners continue to face strict pet clauses, even when they effectively own their home through a long lease.

For now, the government’s position suggests the issue is under active consideration, but any change to leaseholder pet rights would likely form part of a broader and longer-term reform of the leasehold system.

Tenants Have Already Received Pet Ownership Rights Under the Renters Rights Act

The Renters Rights Act has changed how pet requests are handled in rented homes. Tenants now have the right to ask for permission to keep a pet, and landlords have to adequately consider that request instead of dismissing it outright.

This means a tenant cannot just be told “no pets allowed” and left with no further discussion. They must submit their request in writing, and the landlord has to respond within 28 days. If the landlord refuses, they must explain why, using a real reason linked to the property or circumstances, not just a blanket rule.

So, the key change is this: landlords can no longer rely on a fixed “no pets” rule for every tenant. Instead, each request has to be looked at individually, and if it is refused, the landlord must give a specific reason.

What Other Leasehold Reforms Are on the Table?

Alongside the potential changes in pet ownership, the government’s wider leasehold reform agenda includes a series of measures aimed at giving leaseholders more control over their homes and reducing long-standing costs and restrictions associated with the system.

One of the key proposals is a new right to faster broadband, which would allow leaseholders to request high-speed internet installations in their flats. Freeholders would not be able to block or delay these upgrades without a valid reason, addressing a common issue where installation is held up despite existing infrastructure being available.

The reforms also include plans to cap ground rents at £250, with the change expected to take effect in 2028. This is intended to limit escalating annual charges that have historically left some leaseholders facing rising and unpredictable costs over time.

In addition, the government is pushing forward with longer-term structural reform through the introduction of commonhold ownership. Under this system, leasehold flats would gradually be replaced with a model where flat owners collectively own and manage their buildings, removing the need for a separate freeholder and avoiding issues such as diminishing lease terms.

Taken together, these proposals suggest a broader shift in how flat ownership is structured in England and Wales, with the aim of increasing transparency, reducing costs, and giving leaseholders greater autonomy over their homes.

What Leaseholders Start Keeping Pets Right Now?

Only if their current lease permits it or they obtain permission from the freeholder or managing agent.

At present, there is no universal right for leaseholders to keep pets, so everything depends on the terms set out in the lease agreement. Some leases allow pets, while others require permission from the freeholder or managing agent before a pet can be kept in the property. Where permission is required, leaseholders may need to make a formal written request before bringing a pet into their home.

Even in buildings where pets are allowed, leaseholders should be aware that conditions often remain in place around nuisance, noise, and damage to communal areas. This means permission to keep a pet does not remove responsibility for how it is managed within the property.

Conclusion

Nothing has changed yet in practical terms for leaseholders. Pet rights remain governed by existing lease terms, and in most cases, that still means permission from the freeholder or managing agent is required.

What is changing is the conversation around those rules. Leasehold is now under active reform, and pet ownership is being treated as part of that wider review. That matters because it signals future flexibility, even if it does not deliver immediate rights.