Legal advice - renting with a dog

[wurlycurly]

We (me DH and DD) have been living in our rented flat for 11 years. 6 years ago we asked our landlady if we could have a dog. She said yes. So we got our lovely boy and all has been well.
Today I got a letter from the company that manages the building (it's a whole street) saying if we owned the flat we could keep a dog in our flat, but as we are renting we have to leave at the end of our current tenancy.
I know that they sent three letters out so I'm assuming the other two letters have gone to other tenants with dogs.
Can the management company legally force us out?
Surely a dog is a dog? If some dogs are ok, why not all dogs 🤷🏻‍♂️
Any advice gratefully received 🐶

Don't think so but I'm not a lawyer. I think they should be dealing with your LL. However, I am a director of the Management company of a block of studio flats where the lease specifies no pets. We have had quite a problem with an owner who has a GSD in his flat. Complaints about barking at all hours, lunging at other residents on the stairs etc. We can't get a grip and it will cost a fortune to deprive him of his lease, which we are entitled to do.
It seems strange that it's OK if you are an owner but not a tenant.
Ask your LL to look at her lease for the flat and see what it specifies. Then get her on side and get her to deal with the managing agents- unless they are correct.

There is something similar on our street - it's a mix of shared ownership leasehold and freehold (both houses and flats). If you own freehold you are ok to have a dog, if you are leasehold you have to ask permission although I'm not aware of any occasions it has been denied. There's probably a dog every other house.

I would say discuss with your LL in the first instance so they can check their lease, then get her to confirm she gave permission. I would like to think that time is on your side too, it's not like you only recently moved in and/or got the dog.

I don’t know much about it but remember reading this update , I’d suggest that if other well behaved pets are allowed that the management company are wrong. CAB might be able to help advise for free.

Thanks for the replies. It seems punitive, petty and unfair. It's not like our dog is a nuisance.
I'm going to ask the landlady if she will contest it with us.