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Cats make a house a home. Become a cat-friendly landlord.

With 20% of UK homes now privately rented, more and more tenants need to rely on private landlords for secure housing that enables them to put down roots*.

The benefit of happy tenants is obvious: they’re more likely to stay for longer and value the home they’re renting. You can help tenants feel more at home in your property by offering your property as cat-friendly. By following a few simple steps, you can remain in control and ensure tenants are responsible cat owners.

As a landlord, you may have concerns that a cat will damage fixtures and fittings. The reality is that cats rarely cause any issues. 75% of cat-friendly private landlords report no problems at all from cats in their properties***.

What’s the law on allowing cats in rented properties? 

From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act gives private tenants in England who currently rent a property the right to make a written request to keep a pet. This request cannot be unreasonably refused by the landlord.  

Tenants can make a written request to keep a cat, including details of the type of cat they would like to get. As the landlord, you will then need to review this request within 28 days. If needed, you can ask for more information about the cat. Once you have this information, you then have another seven days to respond.  

We expect that requests for a single cat will almost always be reasonable and should be accepted.  

For more information about this law change, and details of what counts as unreasonable grounds for refusal of a pet, take a look at the government’s guidance for landlords and letting agents.  

What’s the law in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Calico cat sat on grey sofa

I want to become a cat-friendly landlord. What can I do?

The first step is to advertise your property as ‘pets welcome’. This will ensure you can make your decision once you’ve met your potential tenant and know more about their cat. Letting people know you’re willing to rent your property to those who already have cats is a great way to open up a wider pool of potential tenants but keeps you firmly in control.

Suggested tips for landlords:

  • ask owners about their cat. Ask your prospective tenant to put together a ‘Pet CV’ to find out more about their cat. It should include vet records so you can see the cat has been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas. It may also include details about the cat’s character, how they like to spend their time, if they use a litter tray and how they interact with people and animals
  • create a standard responsible and reasonable pet policy or clause for your tenancy agreements. This should require cats to be neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas, and have a limit on the number of cats allowed to be kept in a property

Lynton is a private landlord based in Warrington. Lynton currently rents a properly to a private tenant who owns a cat by permission.

I want to keep the tenant as long as I can and keep them happy, because a happy tenant is a happy landlord.

What is a suitable cat for a rented property?

Cats make fantastic pets and can thrive in many types of homes. From cosy flats to houses with gardens, the right match depends on the individual cat’s personality and needs.

While many cats will enjoy having access to the great outdoors, others may be better suited to indoor living, making them ideal for flats or homes without gardens.

Cats who are blind, deaf or have some other disability may be best kept as indoor cats, while other cats with certain illnesses can lead happy, contented lives indoors.

Need to talk? We're always happy to help.

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References

*https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/609282/Dwelling_Stock_Estimates_2016_England.pdf http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/KeyInfoTables, http://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2017/170427-dwelling-stock-estimates-2015-16-en.pdf, https://www.bva.co.uk/about-us/our-structure/animal-welfare-foundation/
** and *** All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size for the survey of private landlords was 985. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16 to 27 January 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of private landlords. The total sample size for the survey of private renters was 1,378. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9 to 27 November 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of private renters in the UK (aged 16+).

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