What type of pet can I have?

You don't need permission from us if:

  • You have a Guide dog or Assistance dog 
  • You want to keep fish in a tank
  • You want to keep 1 small rodent in a cage
  • You want to keep 1 bird in a cage

If you want to keep any other pet in your home you'll need permission from us first.

If you are thinking about getting a pet but would like more advice or information, the RSPCA offer lots of guidance on different sorts of animals and different breeds that are suitable for different lifestyles.

How do I get permission to keep a pet in my home?

If you want to get permission to keep a pet in your property, you'll need to check your tenancy agreement make sure that it will not be a breach of your tenancy agreement.

If it isn't a breach of your tenancy, click here to fill out a pet request form.

How do you decide if I can have a pet?

If the property you're living in or moving into is suitable for the pets you wish to keep, and there are no issues with keeping pets (e.g. previous evidence of failing to keep pets or the number of requests for any type of animal seems to be ‘excessive’), we'll assess all applications and will grant or decline permission in accordance with the below.

 

House

Flat (high rise)

Flat or Maisonette (with direct access to outdoor space and ground floor)

1 dog

Yes (maximum of 2)

No

Yes (maximum of 2)

1 cat

Yes (maximum of 2)

No

Yes (maximum of 2)

Rodent

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bird in a cage

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fish tank

Yes

Yes

Yes

We don't allow certain types of animals to be kept in our properties as pets, these include:

  • Any animal that requires a license under the Dangerous Dogs Act. This act was amended in May 2014 to include a criminal offence for anyone in charge of a dog who allows it to be "dangerously out of control" either on private or public grounds. More information about this and a list of banned dogs can be found by clicking here
  • Any type of farm animals
  • Any type of bird of prey
  • Any type of animal that requires external kennels, runs or aviaries (with the exception of guide or assistance dogs)
Looking after your pet

If you have a pet in your property, it's your responsibility to care for it and to keep it under control.

If your animal is sick, you may be eligible for free veterinary care. Follow this link to the PDSA site to find out if you're eligible for free or supported veterinary care.

If you want to get your pet neutered, you may be able to free of charge or at a reduced cost. For more information, head to the Cats Protection information page. To find out about low-cost dog neutering, take a look at the Dogs Trust information page.

We've also created these helpful guides for you, here is one on puppies and dogs, and here is one on kittens and cats.

What happens if my pet gives birth?

If you decide to keep the kittens/puppies and do not find them suitable new homes, you'll exceed the number of animals we have given you permission to keep.

Keeping more animals, regardless of how they came to be part of your household, may result in action being taken against your tenancy.

Being responsible for your pet

If you keep a pet, you are responsible for their behaviour and for ensuring that it's kept under control both in your home and surrounding areas. You need to make sure that your pet is well looked after and that it doesn't cause any nuisance to your neighbours, or pose a threat to anyone. 

Before having a pet you'll need to consider if your home and lifestyle are suitable for the type of pet you're planning to keep. The care different species and breeds of animal require can vary greatly, from the amount of outdoor exercise to the cost of providing for your pet.  Introducing a pet may have an impact upon your heating and electricity costs, as well as the increased costs you'll have for feeding and veterinary care.  

There is information online about the cost of caring for different pets.

If you want a dog and you have your own garden or access to outside space, it's your responsibility to ensure the area is safely and fully enclosed, that there are no gaps in any fencing, and that neighbours will not be affected by your new pet.

Dog owners have a legal responsibility to control their dogs. Government information on this can be found by clicking here.

Pet nuisance

If you're experiencing nuisance from your own pet, you can look for advice and guidance online. The RSPCA website has relevant information. 

What actions can you take regarding pet nuisance?

In the vast majority of cases, we'll try to resolve the issue informally after hearing both sides of the story. If this doesn't work, then there are a number of more formal approaches we can take:

  • We may withdraw permission for the animal
  • We can restrict the number of animals kept at a property if this is likely to resolve the problem
  • Making responsible pet ownership part of an Acceptable Behaviour Contract - this is a formal contract signed by the person causing the problem, us, and in some cases a third party such as the police
  • Involving statutory organisations such as the police or the Local Authority environmental health department
  • Involving voluntary organisations such as the RSPCA
  • Serving an injunction to oblige the owner to start or stop undertaking certain actions or to remove the animal
  • Terminating the tenancy where tenancy conditions are breached

How do I report pet nuisance?

Click here to get in touch with us, or call our Hub on 0345 602 0540.

If you suspect that a neighbour is guilty of cruelty or neglect towards an animal then you should report this to the RSPCA. You should telephone the 24-hour National Cruelty and Advice Line on 0870 5555 999. The RSPCA will ask you a series of questions, they promise to keep your details confidential, and you can also contact the RSPCA via their website by clicking here.

Can I keep pets in my home?

Use the tool below to find out

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Which pets are allowed?

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Rabbits & other small outdoor animals
  • What is allowed...

    Rabbits are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You live in a house with private access to a private enclosed garden

    Rabbits are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You live in a flat with no private outdoor space
    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you are not allowed a pet in your property
Hamsters, gerbils & small indoor animals
  • What is allowed...

    Hamsters, gerbils and other small animals are allowed in properties where:

    • You will keep the animals in a cage inside your home

    Hamsters, gerbils and other small animals in properties are not allowed where any of the following apply:

    • You intend to keep the animals or their cage in a shared or communal area of the property in which you live
    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you are not allowed a pet in your property

If your pet is allowed, before you get it, you'll need to request permission to keep it in your Midland Heart home by filling out this short form...

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Fish
  • What is allowed...

    Fish are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You do not already have more than 1 tank or bowl per room
    • The fish are to be kept in a tank indoors in your own private home

    Fish are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You have been told by Midland Heart  that you can’t keep pets in your property
    • The tank is to be kept in a communal or shared area of the property
    • You intend to keep fish in an outdoor pond
Turtles, terrapins & other water creatures
  • What is allowed...

    Water animals in a tank are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You do not already have more than 1 tank or bowl per room in your property
    • The animals are to be kept in a tank indoors in your own private home

     

    Water animals are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you can’t keep pets in your property
    • The tank is to be kept in a communal or shared area of the property

     

If your pet is allowed, before you get it, you'll need to request permission to keep it in your Midland Heart home by filling out this short form...

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Dogs
  • What is allowed...

    Dogs are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You live in a property with private access to outdoors
    • The dog is not considered dangerous and does not require a license under the Dangerous Dogs Act
    • You do not have more than 1 cat or 1 dog already
    • Guide dogs or disabled assistance dogs

    Dogs are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You already have two or more cats or dogs or a combination of these living with you
    • The animal requires a license under the Dangerous Dogs Act - Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro
    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you can't keep pets in your property
    • Dangerous dogs are not permitted in Midland Heart properties even if you already have a license to keep a dangerous dog
Cats
  • What is allowed...

    Cats are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You live in a property that has private access to outdoors
    • You do not have more than 1 dog or 1 cat already

    Cats are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you can’t keep pets in your property
    • You already have two or more cats or dogs or a combination of these living with you

If your pet is allowed, before you get it, you'll need to request permission to keep it in your Midland Heart home by filling out this short form...

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Birds
  • What is allowed...

    Birds are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You will keep the animals in a cage inside your home
    • You do not already have a cage with birds inside your home

    Birds are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You intend to keep the birds or their cage in a shared or communal area of the property in which you live
    • You intend to keep the birds or cage in your garden or outbuildings
    • You have not been told by Midland Heart that you can’t keep a pet in the past
Snakes & reptiles
  • What is allowed...

    Snakes and reptiles are allowed in properties where all of the following apply:

    • You will keep the animals in a tank inside your home
    • You do not already have a tank with snakes or reptiles inside your home
    • The animals are not dangerous and have had any venom or poison removed

    Snakes or reptiles are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • You intend to keep the snakes or reptiles or their cage in a shared or communal area of the property in which you live
    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you can't have a pet in your property
    • You intend to keep the snakes or reptiles or cage in your garden or outbuildings
    • The animals are a species banned in the UK
Spiders & scorpions
  • What is allowed...

    Spiders or scorpions are allowed in properties if:

    • You will keep the animals in a tank inside your home

    Spiders or scorpions are not allowed in properties where any of the following apply:

    • The animals are a species banned in the UK
    • You intend to keep the spiders or scorpions or their cage in a shared or communal area of the property in which you live
    • You have been told by Midland Heart that you can't keep pets in your property
    • You intend to keep the spiders or scorpions or their tank in your garden or outbuildings
Other exotic animals
  • Contact us

    You need permission from Midland Heart to keep all other exotic or unusual animals in your home.

    Please contact our Hub on 0345 60 20 540 if you want to keep a pet that is not mentioned on this website.

    This does not mean that permission will be refused.

If your pet is allowed, before you get it, you'll need to request permission to keep it in your Midland Heart home by filling out this short form...

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Chickens & other poultry
  • Not allowed

    Midland Heart does not allow chickens, geese, ducks or other farm or poultry birds to be kept either inside properties or in the gardens of properties.

Other farm animals
  • Not allowed

    Midland Heart does not allow any sort of farm animal to be kept in properties or in the gardens or outdoor spaces of properties.

If your pet is allowed, before you get it, you'll need to request permission to keep it in your Midland Heart home by filling out this short form...

Adding a pet to my home