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Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Legislation and case law change. Always consult a qualified solicitor for your specific situation.

UK Law Reference
All sections of Housing Act 1988
1988 c. 50, s.16B

Section 16B — Requests for consent to keep a pet: further provision

This version in force from 2026-05-01

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) [F1 For the purposes of section 16A, a tenant keeps a pet at a dwelling-house if the tenant permits the pet to live at the dwelling-house (whether or not the tenant is the owner of the pet).]

(2) [F1 Section 16A does not limit the terms that may be agreed in relation to the presence at the dwelling-house of pets which do not live there.]

(3) [F1 The tenant’s request under section 16A must—]

(a) [F1 be in writing;]

(b) [F1 include a description of the pet for which consent is sought.]

(4) [F1 The circumstances in which it is reasonable for a landlord to refuse consent include those in which—]

(a) [F1 the pet being kept at the dwelling-house would cause the landlord to be in breach of an agreement with a superior landlord;]

(b) [F1 an agreement between the landlord and a superior landlord prohibits the keeping of a pet at the dwelling-house without consent of the superior landlord, and the landlord has taken reasonable steps to obtain that consent but the superior landlord has not given it.]

(5) [F1 In proceedings in which a tenant alleges that the landlord has breached the implied term created by section 16A, the court may order specific performance of the obligation.]

Amendment notes

  1. F1 Ss. 16A, 16B inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 11(1), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a)