Section 11 adds two new sections, 16A and 16B, to the Housing Act 1988.
	Section 16A (Requesting consent to keep a pet) makes it an implied term of every assured tenancy except those listed in subsection (6) that a tenant may keep a pet with the landlord’s consent unless the landlord reasonably refuses. Section 16A also sets out that a landlord must respond to a written request from the tenant within 28 days.
	Subsection 16A(6) sets out that this provision does not apply to tenancies of social housing.
	Subsection 16B(3) provides that the tenant’s request must be made in writing and include a description of the pet sought.
	Subsection 16B(4) provides that it is reasonable for a landlord to refuse where accepting a pet would breach an agreement with a superior landlord, and where such an agreement prohibits pets without the superior landlord’s consent, and the landlord has taken reasonable steps to obtain that consent, but the superior landlord has not consented.
	Section (2) permits the court to order specific performance of the obligation not to unreasonably refuse a pet if the landlord breaches the implied term in section 16A.
	Subsection 16B(2) inserts a provision to define a "pet" in section 45, subsection (1) of the Housing Act 1988.
Part 1: Tenancy reform Chapter 1: Assured Tenancies Section 11: Right to request permission to keep a pet Effect