How the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Could Help You Keep Your Emotional Support Animal

What the Renters’ Rights Act Changes

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 represents one of the most significant reforms to England’s private rental sector in decades.
Under the new framework, landlords can no longer rely on blanket “no pets” policies without justification.

Tenants now have a legal right to make a written request to keep a pet. According to guidance from
Shelter England, landlords must respond within 28 days and provide specific reasons if they refuse the request.
If a landlord fails to respond within that period, consent may be considered granted.

The legislation also interacts with existing housing law, including the
Tenant Fees Act 2019, meaning landlords cannot introduce new fees specifically related to allowing pets.

In addition, housing discrimination protections remain in place, preventing landlords from refusing tenants solely because they have children or receive benefits.

What This Means If You Have an Emotional Support Animal

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are not legally equivalent to assistance dogs in the UK, and they do not automatically override a landlord’s policies. However, the new legislation introduces an important change: landlords must now justify refusals with reasonable and proportionate grounds.

This creates a more balanced framework. Where a tenant has a documented mental health condition supported by an animal, landlords may need stronger reasons to justify refusing a request.

Alongside the new Act, the
Equality Act 2010 still applies. This legislation protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination and requires reasonable adjustments in certain circumstances.

Parliamentary guidance on the topic also notes that the question of what constitutes an
“unreasonable refusal” will depend on the specific facts of each case.

Why a Doctor’s ESA Letter Strengthens Your Case

When requesting permission to keep an emotional support animal, supporting medical evidence can be important.
A letter from a GMC-registered UK doctor helps demonstrate that the animal provides a recognised emotional or psychological benefit.

This shifts the discussion from simply wanting a pet to presenting evidence of a documented medical need.

Courts have previously recognised the importance of medical documentation. In the case discussed in
Plymouth Community Homes v Christopher Palmer, a tenant with significant mental health challenges was allowed to keep an emotional support dog after the court found that a blanket ban was disproportionate.

Although each situation is assessed individually, attaching a doctor’s letter when making a pet request may help demonstrate that refusal would require stronger justification.

Who May Qualify for an ESA Letter

Emotional support animals are often associated with mental health and wellbeing. A doctor may consider issuing documentation where an animal provides meaningful psychological support.

Examples of conditions sometimes associated with ESA requests include anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic disorder, and other conditions affecting emotional wellbeing.
Each request is assessed individually by a doctor.

Unlike assistance dogs, emotional support animals do not require specialised training. Their therapeutic benefit often comes from companionship and emotional stability.

In many cases, the assessment can be completed through an online consultation with a GMC-registered doctor, where appropriate.

How To Make Your Pet Request Under the New Rules

Clinical Review & Eligibility

Requests for emotional support animal documentation through MedicalCert are reviewed by GMC-registered UK doctors.
All assessments involve independent clinical judgement.

Requests are not automatically approved. Doctors may decline to issue documentation if the information provided does not meet clinical standards or if further in-person assessment would be more appropriate.

The service is intended for non-emergency situations and does not replace ongoing medical care.

Limitations & When In-Person Care Is Required

Online documentation services may not be appropriate in all circumstances.
If symptoms are severe, worsening, or involve risk to personal safety, urgent medical care should be sought through appropriate healthcare services.

Medical documentation supporting emotional support animals does not guarantee that a landlord will approve a pet request. Final decisions remain with the landlord or housing provider.

Where legal rights are disputed, tenants may wish to seek independent housing advice.

Frequently Asked Questions