Renters’ rights: a big win for renters and their pets!

We’re celebrating a major milestone this week as the Renters’ Rights Bill has officially passed through Parliament! Once it receives Royal Assent later this year, it will become law, which means big changes are on the way for renters with pets.

For the first time, people renting privately will have the legal right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords won’t be able to unreasonably refuse. This is a huge step forward for renters who’ve long faced the heartbreak of having to choose between a place to live and a pet.

At Dogs Trust, we know how much this matters. Around 1 in 7 people who contact us about giving up their dog say it’s because of a change in housing. Over time, we hope that this Bill will help keep more dogs with the people who love them - something worth celebrating!

Earlier this year, 20,000 supporters signed our letter to Angela Rayner, calling for the Renters’ Rights Bill to include protections for social housing tenants. Thanks to this incredible support, amendments on social housing were discussed in Parliament - proof of what we can achieve when we campaign together. 

While those amendments didn’t make it into the final Bill, we’re not stopping here. Many people in social housing, especially older people and those with long-term health conditions, face barriers to pet ownership. We have spoken to Government officials, and they have said that they will be using our advice as the basis of guidance that they will be sending out to social housing providers across England to improve their pet-friendly policies. We’ll keep campaigning to make sure everyone, no matter where they live, has the chance to have a pet by their side.

But for now, we’re taking a moment to celebrate this win. It’s proof that change is possible, and that when we speak up together, we can make a real difference. 

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