Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring tenants can have pets when privately renting.

The Government has committed to making sure that private landlords in England do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home and we will give tenants the right to challenge unfair refusals.

We know that some landlords are concerned about the potential damage caused by pets, so we will also allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that the costs of any damage can be covered without any need to raise the rent.

A full Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation.