Can my landlord continue to charge me more rent for a pet since the Renters Rights Act? (England)

Hi,

In February 2024, I signed an agreement with my landlord to keep pet rats in my house which included a clause which reads "Tenants with pets will be asked to pay £25pcm more than the advertised rent to cover any damage to the property, garden or furnishings caused by their pets.".

I have since stopped keeping rats (since June 2026), but am looking to get a cat/pair of cats instead. I currently do not have any pets in the property. It was my understanding that landlords could no longer charge extra or up the rent to cover pet fees since the Renters RIghts Act came into force, so I requested removal of this extra £25 in June, with request for reimbursment of payments since May 2026.

They've taken a while to respond, so I will have paid for May, June, July and August (on the 6th) now. They told me not to amend my Direct Debit until a decision had been made.

They have now responded with the following:

"When permission was granted for you to keep pets in February 2024, the rent was increased by £25 per calendar month. This was not collected as a separate pet fee or additional payment; it became part of the contractual rent payable for the property.

You are correct that, under the legislation now in force, a landlord cannot impose a new, separate fee for allowing a tenant to keep a pet. However, the legislation does not retrospectively reverse rent arrangements agreed before the new provisions came into effect, nor does it require the landlord or agent to refund part of the contractual rent previously paid.

Your current contractual rent therefore remains unchanged and no reimbursement is due in respect of payments made since 1 May. Please continue to pay the full rent and do not amend your Direct Debit."

My questions:

• Are they correct? Is the rent increase still valid since it was agreed in 2024, even though it was explicitly "£25pcm more than advertised rent" in the agreement I signed?
• I haven't had pets in the property since June - should I be reimbursed for the pet fees in that time, and should they have stopped charging me the additional? I did tell them when I stopped keeping my rats.
• If/when I get pet cats (subject to landlord approval), should they still be charging me the additonal £25pcm?

Thanks in advance!