Keeping a pet

We recognise the importance of pets in our customers' lives. Research has shown that pets can enhance their owners' quality of life and help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.  

We welcome responsible pet ownership in the homes we provide and you don’t need to ask our permission to own a pet*.

We expect our customers who keep pets to:

  • fulfil their duty of care towards their pets;
  • minimise risks to the health, safety, and wellbeing of other CHP customers, employees, and contractors;
  • prevent damage to homes and communal spaces.

Please see the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below and read the policy, and guide to our pet policy for more information. 

A guide to our pet policy

*If we manage your home on behalf of Legal and General Affordable Homes (LGAH), or you're living in temporary accommodation, you still need to request permission to keep a pet, as different terms and conditions apply. You can do this by logging into your online account.

For customers in temporary accommodation, please contact us for more information. 

Pets and communal gardens

As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your pets aren’t a threat, and don’t cause distress or disruption to others in your local area. 

We understand that communal gardens are an important resource for customers who own pets. We welcome considerate use of communal gardens, including exercising pets on leads or training pets.

If irresponsible pet ownership impacts negatively on the quality of life of other customers, we’ll take action in line with our policies, judging each situation on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please see the guide to our pet policy.

 

Animals you can't keep as pets

There are some types of animals that shouldn’t be kept in the homes we provide. These include but aren’t limited to:

  • any endangered species;
  • any animal prohibited by law;
  • any animals that would be inappropriate in a domestic setting (e.g. wild animals).

Making changes to your home

You must always ask permission before making any changes to your home for your pet. Even small changes could make your home non-compliant with safety regulations and put you and others at risk. (For example, cat-flaps may undermine fire safety.)

For more information, please see our Permission for Improvements and Alterations Policy. You can also contact us with enquiries by emailing mb-permissions@chp.org.uk, in person, or by calling 0300 555 0500.

Animal cruelty

Most people look after their animals, but some are treated cruelly. We take this very seriously and will report any suspected animal cruelty to the police and RSPCA immediately. If we believe a property has been abandoned with an animal left behind, we’ll inform the RSPCA who may take action against the previous resident.

For more information please contact us on 0300 555 0500 or read our guide to our pet policy. Other useful contacts include: