From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act gives private tenants in England the legal right to request a pet. Landlords can no longer refuse on a blanket ban basis. The catch? They can still say no if they have "reasonable grounds" - a term already causing headaches for agents trying to work out what, exactly, that means in practice.

Some letting agents have a solution: pet interviews. Rather than guessing which cats or dogs will trash a property, agents are now building formal "temperament viewings" into their vetting processes. It sounds like satire. It isn't, entirely.

What the Renters' Rights Act actually says

The legislation is clear on the outcome, murkier on enforcement. Private rented sector tenants can request a pet from 1 May. Landlords must consider the request. If they refuse, they need defensible reasons tied to the specific animal, not a blanket pet ban.

According to the guidance, agents are expected to treat pet requests seriously. Some are taking that literally. What your tenants are thinking: a right to ask is meaningful progress. What your agents are thinking: another box to tick.

The excluded category matters. Social housing sits outside these rules entirely. If you own property that receives housing benefit tenants, the dynamics work differently - something worth checking with your legal adviser.

Why agents are divided

One letting agent told Property Industry Eye: "We're used to interviewing tenants, but interviewing their pets as well? It's a whole new ball game." That captures the mood. Some view pet interviews as sensible risk management. Others see them as theatre - a tick-box exercise that adds time and complexity without reducing actual damage risk.

The practical assessment criteria being discussed include dog response to commands, cat independence levels, and previous veterinary references. Some agents are now booking "dedicated pet-friendly viewing slots" to trial the approach. Others aren't moving at all.

Non-compliance carries fines, though the enforcement mechanism remains unclear. The onus sits with letting agents to demonstrate they've considered requests properly, not with landlords to prove they've refused reasonably. That's a meaningful distinction for your property management.

What this means for your yield and void risk

For landlords, pet-friendly properties have opened up a new tenant pool. Demand is there. Whether your property sits in that pool depends on the specifics: type, size, deposit structure, and your appetite for the added risk profile.

The void risk cuts both ways. Accepting pets potentially widens your tenant pool and cuts void time. Refusing without clear grounds risks legal friction. The middle ground - selective pet acceptance with specific conditions - is where most landlords are landing.

From a management perspective, the question isn't whether pet interviews are pointless theatre. It's whether your agent is actively working out your personal pet policy and communicating it clearly to tenants. That's the operational detail that matters.

Your tenants will start asking from 1 May. Your agent should have an answer ready before then.