This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rental law differs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check the rules where you live. Last reviewed 14 August 2026.
A Pet CV is simply a short profile that helps a landlord or letting agent understand the animal that would be living in the property. It is not a legal document and it should not feel like one.
The best Pet CVs are factual, reassuring and quick to scan.
Start with the basics
Include your pet’s name, type of animal, age and size. Breed can be useful for dogs, but size and routine are often more practical than a breed label alone. If you have more than one pet, make that clear from the start.
Describe the normal routine
A landlord is often trying to understand what living with the pet will actually look like. Explain whether your dog goes to work with you, uses a dog walker, is normally left for short periods or has somebody at home most of the day. For cats, say whether they are indoor-only or need outside access.
Mention training and behaviour without overselling
Useful details include house-training, crate training where relevant, recall, scratching-post habits for cats, and how the pet behaves around neighbours or communal areas.
Avoid claims such as “never makes a sound” unless they are genuinely true. A credible profile is better than a perfect-sounding one.
Add a previous landlord reference if you have one
A short reference saying your pet lived at a previous property without causing problems can be powerful. Paw Keys is designed to let renters build useful evidence without turning it into a public popularity contest.
What about insurance?
If you have relevant cover, you can mention it, but do not imply that insurance replaces your normal responsibility for damage. Likewise, do not feel pressured into buying a particular product simply because you are a pet owner.
Use a good photo
One clear, recent photo is enough. It should show the pet as they really are. You do not need a professional shoot, filters or novelty costumes.
What not to put in a Pet CV
- Long personal stories that bury the useful information.
- Unnecessary medical information about yourself.
- Your passport, bank details or other sensitive documents.
- Claims you cannot support.
- Dozens of photographs.
A simple Pet CV structure
Name and basics: “Milo, 5-year-old medium-sized cockapoo.”
Routine: “Usually at home with me three days a week and with a dog walker on office days.”
Home habits: “House-trained, sleeps downstairs and is used to neighbours and shared entrances.”
Rental history: “Lived in our current rented flat for two years; previous landlord reference available.”
Keep the renter application separate
Your Pet CV is about the pet. Your affordability, employment and identity documents belong in the normal tenancy referencing process. Keeping the two separate makes both easier to understand.
You can build a free Paw Keys Pet CV and choose when to share it with a landlord or agent.
Do landlords expect a Pet CV?
No. A Pet CV is optional. It is simply a convenient way to present the information that often comes up when a landlord or agent is deciding whether a particular pet is a sensible fit for a home. If a landlord has already said pets are welcome, the CV can still be useful because it avoids repeating the same information in several messages.
What if you do not have a previous landlord reference?
That is common for first-time renters, people moving from an owned home or anyone who has only recently got their pet. Say so. You can still give practical information about routine, training and behaviour. A reference should strengthen an application where available, not become a barrier that makes it impossible for somebody to rent with a pet for the first time.
Should you include vaccination or vet records?
Usually, no. A Pet CV does not need to become a medical file. If there is a specific practical reason to mention something — for example that a pet is neutered where this is relevant to a building policy — you can do so without uploading detailed veterinary documents. Keep sensitive or unnecessary information private.
Keep it current
Update the profile when the pet’s routine changes, you move home or you receive a new landlord reference. A short current profile is more useful than a longer document that still describes how your pet lived three years ago.