Can I keep a pet in my rented accommodation?

What the Law Says

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 is the main law governing private rented housing in Ireland. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants — but it does not directly address pets.

Section 16 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 deals with the obligations of tenants, including keeping the dwelling in good condition and not causing damage. However, it does not mention pets or prohibit them outright.

Because the Act is silent on pets, whether you can keep one depends mainly on the terms of your written tenancy agreement. Landlords are allowed to include reasonable conditions — such as requiring prior written consent for pets or banning certain types of animals — as long as those terms don’t breach statutory rights or public policy.

If your agreement doesn’t mention pets, there’s no automatic legal barrier to keeping one — but you should still inform your landlord and get written permission to avoid disputes later.

Statutory Text

Section 16: The tenant shall — (a) keep the dwelling in good repair and condition, having regard to fair wear and tear; (b) not cause or permit any nuisance or annoyance to neighbours; (c) not make any alteration to the dwelling without the landlord’s prior written consent; and (d) comply with any other term of the tenancy agreement.

— Residential Tenancies Act 2004, s. 16 — Tenant's obligations

What to Do

Sources