Pet ownership in rental properties
From "The Landlord and Tenant Act 2025"
Go to the project
The updating of the Landlord and Tenant Act 2025 provides an important opportunity for Bermuda to align its rental legislation with modern standards in other jurisdictions, where fair and balanced provisions on pet ownership are now common. The current draft contains no such provisions, leaving the matter entirely to private contracts. This has resulted in widespread “no pets” policies that restrict housing options for responsible pet owners and place increasing pressure on animal shelters and rehoming services, as tenants are often forced to surrender their pets when seeking accommodation.
To address this issue, the Act could adopt a “no unreasonable refusal” approach, similar to those found in modern tenancy frameworks in the United Kingdom and parts of Canada, whereby:
- Tenants must request permission in writing to keep a pet;
- Landlords may refuse consent only where there is reasonable justification (for example, property type (e.g. shared accommodation, insufficient outdoor space), health or safety concerns, or insurance restrictions);
- Landlords may attach reasonable conditions to consent, such as additional cleaning requirements or the expectation that any pet-related damage will be repaired at the tenant’s expense.
- Tenancy agreements should not contain blanket prohibitions against pets.
This balanced framework would protect landlords’ legitimate interests while promoting fairer access to housing for tenants with pets. It would also help reduce animal abandonment, support the work of rehoming organizations, and align Bermuda’s rental laws with contemporary international standards that recognize pets as part of family and community life.
Including such a provision would modernize the legislation, promote animal welfare, and reflect the Government’s broader goals of fairness, inclusivity, and healthy community living within the rental sector.