Advice for landlords and letting agents on allowing banned breeds
From 31st December 2023, American Bully XL type dogs will be added to the list of banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act. From 1st February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an American Bully XL type dog in England and Wales unless the owner has a certificate of exemption for their dog.
It's important to remember that if you are renting to a tenant who is the owner of an American Bully XL type dog, they have to comply with a number of conditions in order for their dog to be exempted. Some of these conditions include:
- Their dog being kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public.
- Their dog must be neutered and microchipped, with the owner notifying the Index of Exempted Dogs any time their address changes.
- They must have Third Party Public Liability insurance.
- They must show their certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or dog warden.
If any owner does not comply, they risk their dog being seized and going through a court process to get them back.
It is not your responsibility to check that your tenant is complying with the law, nor do you need to identify American Bully XL type dogs. We ask that you make decisions on a case-by-case basis, the same as you would for any other pet.
We've got lots of advice on accepting pets in this section, as well as Good Practice Packs for landlords and letting agencies. We also have a sample pet policy which has a point around allowing banned breeds. It's also worth checking with your insurance provider that any insurance covering pets includes banned breeds.
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