First win since Renters Rights Act for Long Eaton pets advocacy charity

Ms A's cat Marshy (Credit: AdvoCATS)

When a person known publicly only as Ms A asked her landlord if she could have a cat in her flat she was told: “One-bedroom flats are too small for pets.”

Suspecting that this might not be the case, and anxious to have her cat Marshy join her at last, Ms A contacted AdvoCATS, the charity that provides a free pets-in-lets support and advice service, for help.

AdvoCATS advised her that a landlord could no longer make such sweeping generalisations since the Renters Act of 2025 came into force on May 1st and talked her through the new legislation, what information she should include in her request, and the process she should follow.

The reply Ms A received from the landlord’s lettings agency granted her permission to have her cat at the address, with the condition that she took out pet damage insurance and agreed to have the property professionally cleaned, using the landlord’s chosen contractor at the end of the tenancy.

Confused, she again contacted AdvoCATS, who then helped draft a robust response explaining that the conditions did not comply with either the Renters Rights Act 2025 or the Tenant Fees Act 2019, providing facts and web links to back up her stance.

One key point raised was that although mandatory pet damage insurance had appeared in earlier versions of the Renters Reform/Rights Bill, this provision was removed before Royal Assent was granted. This means landlords and letting agents cannot legally require tenants to purchase this insurance or reimburse them for the same as a condition of having pets.

The tenant CAN choose to take out insurance voluntarily, and, in this case, Ms A had already offered to explore that option, but it cannot be enforced. AdvoCATS also highlighted that requiring professional cleaning through a landlord-approved contractor is not permitted under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

Now she is sharing her flat with feline Marshy and says: “Having my cat with me means far more than simply being allowed a pet, he is family. He has been a constant source of comfort and companionship through some very difficult periods of my life.

“When I was faced with the uncertainty of whether I would be allowed to keep him in my rental property, the process felt overwhelming and incredibly stressful. The support and guidance I received from AdvoCATS helped me understand my rights, present my request properly and approach the situation with confidence. As soon as I picked up the phone to AdvoCATS I knew I was in safe hands. They were so supportive and I immediately felt reassured.

“I’m incredibly happy to say, through the help of AdvoCats I was granted permission to keep my pet. I hope my experience encourages other tenants to seek advice and support if they find themselves in a similar position.”

Jen Berezai, founder of Long Eaton based AdvoCATS said: “This was a classic example of neither party quite knowing where they stand with the new legislation, which was quickly and simply resolved with some text drafted by AdvoCATS – the type of case that early indications lead us to believe is going to represent a significant percentage of our casework going forward.

“We’re so happy for Ms A and Marshy, and glad to have been able to help.”