Pets can be a welcome addition to any home but before you consider getting any pet, you need to ask us for permission. We are likely to give you permission to keep a cat, a dog or a small caged animal if your home has a private, enclosed garden. However, if there are any communal areas where you live then we may not be able to grant you permission to keep any animals. We will of course treat guide, hearing and enabling dogs as special cases.
What animals will be refused?
Important information for XL Bully owners
Soha residents in England who own an XL Bully dog need to apply for a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ to legally keep their pet beyond 31 January 2024.
You can find more details about how to apply for this certificate on the Government website: Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK.
You will be committing a criminal offence and breaching your tenancy agreement if you do not hold a Certification of Exemption on 1 February 2024.
From 31 December 2023 in England it will also be against the law to:
- sell an XL Bully dog
- abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
- give away an XL Bully dog
- breed from an XL Bully dog
- have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle
Please let us know if you have an XL Bully in a Soha property as we will need to see a copy of the Certificate of Exemption.
If you have any further questions about keeping an XL Bully dog in a Soha home, please phone us on 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone) or email housing@soha.co.uk
We won’t allow you to keep certain breeds of dogs outlined in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or any animal listed in the schedule of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
We will only give you permission to keep poultry if we deem your property/garden suitable. We do not normally give permission for cockerels. You should also check with your local council about any by-laws or planning restrictions that may prevent you from keeping poultry.
How to apply
Please download our application form for permission to keep a pet.
Once completed, please email us your application form.
We will normally contact you within 5 working days to let you know the outcome of your application.
Once you have obtained permission for a pet you must look after it properly and not allow it to:
- stray or wander outside your property
- foul gardens
- cause any nuisance or distress
- cause damage to your or anyone else’s property
- create a health or safety hazard
- be a threat or endanger other people
We will expect you to:
- maintain the health of your pets and provide necessary veterinary treatment when required
- house your pet appropriately (tank, cage, garden etc)
- keep your pet in a manner that ensures it’s physical and mental well-being is cared for
- ensure that any pet is not allowed to become stressed when left alone
- ensure that any pet does not cause any noise nuisance to other residents
- not to keep so many pets that overcrowds a property and causes potential health risks to both animals and humans
- to microchip dogs and cats and to comply with legislation dogs must wear a collar and tag.
- make clear arrangements to provide adequate care for your pets when you are away.
If you do not gain written permission to keep a pet at your home or you do not keep to the above conditions, then we may ask you to re-home your pet or take legal action against you for breach of tenancy.