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Keeping pets

Photo of a cat

You are not allowed to keep pets in your home without having written permission from Housing Services.

Tenants must register each of their individual pets with Housing Services.

Download an animal registration form.

Types of pet allowed

There are restrictions on the numbers and types of pets that you are allowed to keep, depending on your property type.

Permitted pets for Homes for Independent Living (formerly Sheltered Housing):

  • Small caged birds
  • Fish in an aquarium
  • Care dogs

Permitted pets for bedsits/one bed flats:

  • Small caged birds/small mammals (excluding rabbits and guinea pigs unless the tenant is subject to the sole use of a garden)
  • Fish in an aquarium
  • Caged reptiles (not venomous)
  • Caged insects/spiders (not venomous)
  • Dogs (maximum of one) subject to sole use of garden
  • Cats (maximum of one) subject to sole use of garden

Permitted pets of two and three bed flats/maisonettes

  • Small caged birds/ small mammals (excluding rabbits and guinea pigs unless the tenant is subject to the sole use of a garden)
  • Fish in an aquarium
  • Caged reptiles (not venomous)
  • Caged insects/spiders (not venomous)
  • Dogs (maximum of one large or two small) subject to sole use of garden
  • Cats (maximum of two subject to sole use of garden or max 1 if no use of a garden)

Permitted pets for houses

  • Small caged birds/ small mammals (excluding rabbits and guinea pigs unless the tenant is subject to the sole use of a garden)
  • Fish in an aquarium
  • Caged reptiles (not venomous)
  • Caged insects/spiders (not venomous)
  • Dogs (maximum of one large or two small) subject to sole use of garden
  • Cats (maximum of two subject to sole use of garden or maximum of one if no use of a garden)
  • Pigeons and birds of prey subject to conditions

Permission to keep the following animals will not be granted under any circumstances

Tenants cannot keep a pet that is likely to be a danger or cause a nuisance to neighbours or visitors to the property.

If you are having problems because of a neighbour’s pet, please contact your housing officer.

Housing Services pet policy prevents dogs and cats from being kept in accommodation that does not have sole use of a garden. Tenants that are registered blind/disabled and who need an assistance dog are the only exception to this rule.

Housing services full pet policy is available on our key policies page.

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