Section 16A — Housing Act 1988: Requesting consent to keep a pet

Requesting consent to keep a pet 16A 1 It is an implied term of every assured tenancy to which this section applies that—

a a tenant may keep a pet at the dwelling-house if the tenant asks to do so in accordance with this section and the landlord consents;

b such consent is not to be unreasonably refused by the landlord;

c the landlord is to give or refuse consent in writing on or before the 28th day after the date of the request, except as provided by subsections (2) to (5).

2 Where the landlord reasonably requests further information from the tenant about the pet on or before the 28th day after the date of the tenant’s request—

a if the tenant provides that information, the landlord may delay giving or refusing consent until the 7th day after the date on which the tenant provides any further information that the landlord requests;

b if the tenant does not provide that information, the landlord is not required to give or refuse consent.

3 Where—

a the keeping of the pet at the dwelling-house would require the landlord to obtain the consent of a superior landlord under the terms of a superior tenancy, and b the landlord seeks the consent of the superior landlord on or before the 28th day after the date of the tenant’s request, the landlord may delay giving or refusing consent until the 7th day after the date on which the landlord receives consent or refusal from the superior landlord.

4 Where the landlord and the tenant agree that the landlord may delay giving or refusing consent, the landlord may delay until whatever date is agreed between the landlord and the tenant.

5 Where more than one of subsections (2) to (4) apply, the landlord may delay until the latest date to which the landlord may delay giving or refusing consent under any of the subsections.

6 This section applies to every assured tenancy other than a tenancy of social housing, within the meaning of Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 .