Keeping pets in your council home
Keeping pets in your Council home
Pets can be an important part of family life and can bring comfort, companionship and joy to everyday life. We support responsible pet ownership while helping to make sure our neighbourhoods are safe, clean and enjoyable for all.
We work with a range of organisations to promote responsible pet ownership and positive animal welfare. We are committed to achieving and maintaining Dogs Trust Accredited Dog Friendly Housing Provider status. This helps make sure that tenants who keep pets are supported to do so responsibly while balancing the needs of neighbours and communities.
Do I need permission?
Tenants need to ask for permission to keep a pet, except for smaller pets and some exceptions, as explained below.
Pets that do not normally need permission
You do not normally need to apply for permission for:
small domesticated rodents, such as rats, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters, where no more than one pair is kept.
small domesticated birds, such as cockatiels, finches, canaries and budgerigars, kept in small numbers appropriate to the species and the property.
fish, reptiles or amphibians kept in one suitable domestic aquarium, provided the aquarium is appropriate for the property and does not create a risk of damage.
fish kept in a garden pond, provided the pond does not create an unreasonable risk, nuisance or damage. You may need separate permission to construct a new pond.
short-term care of someone else’s pet for up to 28 days, for example looking after a family member’s or friend’s pet, provided there are no nuisance, property or animal welfare concerns.
assistance dogs where they are required as a reasonable adjustment. You should tell us that you have an assistance dog.
You may need permission if you keep more than the number or type of animals covered by these arrangements.
When do I need to apply for permission?
You should apply for permission before keeping a pet, unless they are exempt.
You will need permission to keep pets including the following examples:
dogs;
cats;
rabbits or other animals where more than one pair is being kept;
animals not covered by the exemptions above;
larger numbers of birds;
additional pets which take you beyond the permitted number;
therapy dogs, emotional support animals and other support animals where they are not being treated as an assistance animal or reasonable adjustment.
If you are not sure if you need permission, contact us before getting the pet.
What about pets I already have?
If you already had a pet before our Pet Policy for Council Tenants came into effect on 1 October 2026, you do not normally need to apply retrospectively, as long as the pet is lawful and is not causing tenancy, nuisance, property or animal welfare problems.
If you want a new pet to live at your home, you will need to apply for permission. If you are not sure if your existing pet is covered, contact us.
Assistance dogs and support animals
We understand the important role that assistance dogs and other support animals can play.
An assistance dog that is required as a reasonable adjustment will not normally go through the standard pet permission process. You should notify us so that your circumstances can be properly recorded and any relevant support or reasonable adjustment can be considered.
Therapy dogs, emotional support animals and other support animals do not automatically have the same status as an assistance dog. These cases will be considered individually, taking account of the animal's role, your circumstances, the suitability of your home, animal welfare and the Council's equality duties.
If you believe you need an animal as a reasonable adjustment, please tell us.
How do I apply for permission?
If permission is needed, you will need to fill out a Pet Permission Request Form. If you cannot access the form online, contact us and we will send you a paper application.
You will be asked for information about:
You and your household
your contact details;
any circumstances that may be relevant to your request.
Your pet
type, breed or species;
age and sex;
size and approximate weight;
if it is neutered or spayed;
microchip details where applicable;
veterinary details and any relevant registration or documentation.
Your home
where you will be keep your pet;
garden and exercise arrangements;
how your pet will be toileted;
how long it will normally be left alone;
any equipment, structures or alterations that may be needed.
You may also be asked about previous experience caring for pets and any previous pet related tenancy issues.
How many pets do you allow?
As a general guide, applications involving up to two pets will normally be considered suitable for most properties. Applications involving larger numbers of pets may also be approved where we are satisfied that the property is suitable and there are no tenancy management, nuisance or animal welfare concerns.
How will my application be considered?
We will assess each application on its own merits. We will consider matters such as:
if your home is suitable for the pet;
your pet's size, type and welfare needs;
if you can properly care for and control your pet;
arrangements for exercise, toileting and supervision;
if your pet is likely to cause nuisance, damage or problems for neighbours;
any relevant history of pet-related tenancy problems;
legal restrictions applying to the animal;
any equality or reasonable adjustment considerations.
A previous tenancy issue will not automatically mean that permission is refused. We will consider if it is relevant to your current request and the circumstances at the time.
Where appropriate, we may grant permission subject to reasonable conditions.
How long will a decision take?
We will normally provide a written decision within 28 days of receiving a completed application.
If we need more information to assess your application, we may contact you before making a decision.
If permission is granted, we will write you and explain any conditions that apply.
If permission is refused, we will write and explain the reasons for the decision.
What responsibilities do I have?
If you keep a pet, you are responsible for:
providing proper food, water, shelter, exercise and veterinary care;
meeting your pet's welfare needs;
keeping your pet under proper control;
preventing nuisance or disturbance to neighbours;
cleaning up after your pet;
preventing damage to your home or communal areas;
complying with relevant animal welfare and dog control laws;
complying with any conditions attached to your permission.
You are responsible for the behaviour of your pet, including when it is being exercised or is in communal areas.
What if I am temporarily looking after someone else's pet?
You can normally look after a family member's, friend's or recognised animal welfare organisation's pet for up to 28 days without applying for permission.
The arrangement must remain temporary and must not cause:
nuisance or disturbance;
damage to the property;
problems for neighbours; or
animal welfare concerns.
If the arrangement is likely to last longer than 28 days, you must tell us.
What if I get another pet?
If you want to keep an additional pet, you will need to apply for permission even if your existing pet does not require permission.
This also applies if:
an existing pet has a litter and you want to keep the offspring;
you replace a pet with a different animal;
the number or type of animals you keep changes;
a temporary arrangement becomes permanent.
If you are not sure, contact the us before making the change.
What if I move to another Council property?
Permission for a pet may need to be considered again if you move to another Council property. A property that is suitable for one type or number of pets may not be suitable for another property. This can be particularly relevant where the new property has different space, garden or communal arrangements. We will discuss this with you if you considering moving to a different Council property.
What happens if I keep a pet without permission?
If we become aware that you are keeping a pet that requires permission, we will contact you to discuss the situation.
Where appropriate, you will be given the opportunity to apply retrospectively.
We will consider:
what type of animal you have;
how long you have had it;
whether you understood that permission was required;
if there are any welfare concerns;
if there have been complaints or tenancy problems; and
if the pet could be permitted.
If permission cannot be given, you will normally be given a reasonable period to make other arrangements, taking account of the circumstances and the welfare of the animal.
What if there is a problem with a pet?
We expect tenants to keep their pets responsibly.
Problems may include:
excessive or persistent barking or other noise;
aggressive or uncontrolled behaviour;
fouling in communal areas;
damage to the property;
persistent nuisance or disturbance;
roaming animals;
failure to comply with conditions; or
concerns about an animal's welfare.
If a problem is reported, we will investigate the circumstances and consider what action is appropriate. Depending on the situation, this may include advice, a warning, agreed actions or conditions, or formal tenancy or estate management action.
Serious incidents may require immediate action and may also be referred to another appropriate agency.
What if I am concerned about an animal's welfare?
If you are concerned that a pet is being neglected or is not being properly cared for, you should report the concern to us. Where appropriate, we may work with other services or agencies where specialist action is required.
Can permission be withdrawn?
Permission will not normally be withdrawn without first considering the circumstances and giving the tenant an opportunity to address any problems, unless the seriousness of the situation requires more immediate action. Where permission is withdrawn, we will explain the reasons and what you need to do next.
Any action will take account of the tenancy agreement, our policies and procedures, relevant legal requirements and the circumstances of the case.
Tenant Pet Information Pack
To help tenants care for their pets responsibly, the Dogs Trust Tenant Pet Information Pack contains practical advice, guidance and signposting to specialist organisations.