Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the difference in pet ownership rights of leaseholders and tenants in rental properties, specifically regarding the provisions in the Renter’s Rights Act that prevent landlords issuing blanket bans on pets on equality of treatment between different forms of property ownership; and whether the Government will introduce measures to ensure leaseholders have equivalent rights to keep pets in their properties.

The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.

At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder.

The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.