Pets in council properties
Information and guidance on keeping pets in a Thanet District Council property
Apply for permission to keep a pet
Use this form to request permission to keep a pet in your Thanet District Council property.
This form is for Thanet District Council tenants and licence holders (living in council-managed temporary accommodation).
Before you start, please read the pet ownership guidance on this page.
Keeping a pet in council housing
If you are a Thanet District Council tenant or live in council-managed temporary accommodation, you must apply for permission before bringing a pet into your home.
Some pets, such as small caged animals or fish, do not require permission. You can find more information on this page.
If you live in private accommodation, please ask your landlord directly for permission.
You can read our full Pet Policy for detailed information on our rules and the application process.
You do not need to ask us for permission if you want to keep:
- Small birds kept in a cage indoors.
- Small caged animals, like hamsters or rabbits.
- Small fish tanks.
- Small exotic pets (as long as they are not venomous and do not need to be registered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976).
Even if you do not need permission for these animals, you must still make sure that:
- You keep them to a manageable number.
- They have safe and proper shelter, like a suitable hutch or cage.
- You care for them following RSPCA guidelines.
To register an assistance animal in the UK, you can reach out to the following organisations:
PermalinkYou are not allowed to breed or sell any animals from a Thanet District Council property.
PermalinkWe look at every request carefully. We might refuse permission if we feel the type of pet is not suitable for your property.
We may also refuse your request if you have broken your tenancy agreement.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Owing rent (rent arrears).
- Not letting our team in to do urgent or mandatory repairs.
- Not letting our team in for safety checks (including gas, electrical, and legionella checks).
- Having complaints against you for noise or anti-social behaviour.
- Not keeping your home in a clean and satisfactory condition.
If you need to make changes to your home for your pet, such as fitting a cat flap, you must ask for our permission first. You can find out how to do this on our alterations to your home page.
Please note: You are not allowed to fit a cat flap if your door opens into a shared, indoor space (like a communal hallway in a block of flats).
Please refer to our Pet Policy for more information
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