XL Bully UK ban: Actions for owners
Published: 10 November 2023
What you need to know if you have an XL Bully.
Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs, the government has added XL Bully to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
We encourage all customers who own an XL Bully to check the Government guidance for more information and updates on what you need to do. A summary of the law changes and key dates are below.
Actions for tenants who own XL Bullies
All tenants who own an XL Bully will need to provide us with a copy of their Certificate of Exemption by 1 February 2024, to show they are complying with the law. Those that do not provide this will be reported to the police.
Advice for leaseholders
If you or your tenants own this breed of dog and have a Certificate of Exemption, we ask that you provide a copy to us. This will enable us to update our records in line with government guidelines and manage any related concerns from others in the building, should they arise.
The law changes for XL Bully owners
To help current owners adapt to the new laws, the changes will come into force in two stages.
Stage 1
From 31 December 2023, it will be against the law to:
- sell an XL Bully dog
- abandon an XL Bully dog
- give away an XL Bully dog
- breed from an XL Bully dog.
- have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle
Stage 2
From 1 February 2024, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog.
Conditions for keeping an XL bully include:
- Microchipping your dog
- keeping it on a lead and muzzling your dog in public
- Neutering your dog - If your dog is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024. If your dog is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 30 June 2024. We recommend that you arrange for your dog to be neutered as soon as possible to make sure that you meet these deadlines.
If you decide not to keep your XL Bully
If you decide not to keep your XL Bully, you will need to take your dog to a registered vet to euthanise it. There will be a compensation scheme towards the cost of euthanasia if you choose this option.