Can I be banned from keeping pets in a rented flat?

Yes. The “Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos” (LAU), Spain's urban tenancies act, says nothing about animals and leaves it to the tenancy agreement, so a clause prohibiting them is valid and, if you have signed it, you must comply with it. Neither Spain's 2023 animal welfare act nor the October 2026 rental reform has changed this. If the agreement says nothing, you can keep pets, but you are liable for any damage they cause to the home and for any nuisance to the neighbours.

Alburquerque Abogados

José Manuel Alburquerque
Landlord and tenant

If the agreement prohibits them

  • If you want to keep an animal, ask the landlord for permission in writing. If the landlord gives it, have it recorded in an annex to the tenancy agreement, identifying the animal.
  • If you breach the prohibition, the landlord can bring a claim against you for breach of contract and ask the court to terminate the contract, that is, to bring it to an end. What the court decides will depend on the circumstances, for example whether the animal causes damage or nuisance or whether you had already been warned.
  • In any event, you will have to pay for any damage the animal causes.
  • If you need an assistance dog, such as a guide dog, take advice before accepting the prohibition. Catalonia has its own law for people accompanied by these dogs.

If the agreement says nothing

You can keep them, but you are liable for two things:

  • Damage they cause to the home, such as scratches on doors and floors, or smells. If it is recorded in the document signed when the keys are handed over, the landlord can deduct the cost of repairing it from the statutory deposit (the “fianza”).
  • Nuisance to the neighbours, such as constant barking or mess in the common areas. If it is serious and repeated, it may lead to the tenancy being ended.

This answer is provided for educational purposes and offers initial guidance on the question raised. Every matter has its own circumstances and nuances that require individual assessment. For that reason, before taking decisions with significant consequences, it is advisable to consult a professional and not to rely solely on this information. Personalised advice makes it possible to apply these explanations to the specific case and to assess the options available with greater certainty.