Moving House With Pets

Update the Microchip

All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 8 weeks old, and in England cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old, including cats that only stay indoors. You can be fined up to £500 if a dog or cat is not microchipped when it needs to be.

The part that matters on a move is the address. GOV.UK says you are responsible for keeping your pet's microchip information up to date, for example if you move house, by contacting the database company your pet is registered with, and you might be charged a fee. Manchester City Council describes updating the details after a move as a legal requirement.

Renting With a Pet From May 2026

If you are moving into a rented home in England, the rules changed on 1 May 2026. You ask your landlord in writing, describing the animal: what it is, its size and how much room it needs. The landlord has 28 days to respond in writing, and cannot refuse without a fair reason.

GOV.UK gives examples on both sides. Simply disliking pets or worrying about future damage are not fair reasons. An allergy in the household, a home too small for the animal, a freeholder who bans pets or a pet that is illegal to keep may be. Once a landlord agrees, they cannot change their mind. They can claim through your pet insurance if you have it, but cannot claim for the same damage twice.

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  Ask in writing, and describe the pet properly.

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  Expect a written answer within 28 days.

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  Keep the landlord's agreement with your tenancy paperwork.

Travelling on Moving Day

Pets go in your car, because removal firms' terms exclude animals. Highway Code rule 57 says animals in a vehicle should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you drive or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly, and gives a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard as ways to do it.

While a house removal is being loaded, doors are open for hours. Keep a cat shut in one quiet room with a sign on the door, or with a friend for the day, and walk a dog before the crew arrives. A pet that slips out during loading is an entirely avoidable problem.

Settling Into the New Home

Cats Protection advises keeping a cat indoors for at least three weeks after a move, and notes that some cats let out too soon go missing, sometimes finding their way back to their old home. If you are only moving a few streets, the old home is close enough to find, so keep to the full three weeks.

Dogs have new rules to learn too. Manchester's dog control orders, extended in July 2025, require dogs to be kept on a lead on any road or pavement in the city and limit one person to walking four dogs at a time, with a £100 fixed penalty or up to £1,000 on prosecution. Walk the new neighbourhood on the lead for the first weeks while you both learn it.