The first reading of the Renters’ Rights Bill took place back in September 2024. Due to the complexity of the new legislation and the many stages involved in passing the bill, there is still no confirmed timeframe for the bill becoming law.
However, the Renters’ Rights Bill has taken a significant step closer to being implemented, with the Report Stage having commenced on 1 July 2025.
The Report Stage provides the opportunity for members of the Lords to debate and examine details of the proposed legislation and make amendments. One significant amendment that has been reported this week is the scrapping of the requirement for tenants with pets to take out pet damage insurance.
The bill includes stronger rights for tenants to keep pets in private rented properties, with the new legislation to include a ruling that landlords will not be allowed to unreasonably refuse requests.
To balance the added risks of accepting pet requests, the previous plans outlined that landlords would be able to require tenants to take out pet damage insurance. During the Report Stage in the House of Lords, this has now been removed, and the legislation has been amended.
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One of the key concerns leading to the debate was that insurers would not be able to provide the required products in time. The legislation has now been amended but there are worries in the property industry that landlords will not have adequate financial protection to cover pet damage costs.
As a potential solution, Tory peers are backing an alternative amendment to allow landlords to request a deposit specifically to cover pet damage, in addition to the standard tenancy deposit.
BBC political reporter Paul Seddon provided an update:
“Peers voted narrowly to approve an additional amendment that would allow landlords to charge up to three weeks’ rent as a returnable deposit, to cover potential damage caused by pets during a tenancy.”
“The move passed by 206 votes to 198, after the Conservatives teamed up with a group of crossbench peers to defeat the government and the Liberal Democrats, who voted against the proposal.”
MPs will vote on the outcome over the next few weeks, as landlords await reassurance that they will have some additional form of protection for pet damage costs.
You can read more about this story on the BBC website.
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