landlords and pets

Re: landlords and pets

Kim Buckley — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:09:40 GMT

When I was at uni, my landlord said no pets in the contract but when we asked he said we could have pets as long as they didn't make a mess or cause any damage. We had 3 rats and when my landlord came round one day he asked if they were hamsters so we just said they were (some people get freaked out when you mention rats) hehe.

My bf owns his flat but it's part of a block and it is stated that no pets are allowed even though he owns it!!

Re: landlords and pets

Haley Thomas — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:43:22 GMT

My sis has just moved into a full rent house. She took on a stray staffie from my work when she was living at mums, Her landlord said its fine but she had an increased deposit to pay and she has to pay for the whole house carpets to be professionally cleaned when she moves out. They originally stipulated 'no pets', There's no harm in asking.

Re: landlords and pets

Deemus — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:23:18 GMT

For what its worth I think children could do more damage than pets drawing on walls and puking on carpets!

Lol, forgot about the kids thing. They're not really on my radar

Good luck with everything Doolally

Re: landlords and pets

Doolally — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:14:52 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I can but ask. I wouldn't want to not ask as i've got a ground floor flat with its own garden and patio doors, guarenteed the cats will be looking out the window when the landlord looks over my fence!!

For what its worth I think children could do more damage than pets drawing on walls and puking on carpets!

Re: landlords and pets

Deemus — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:09:19 GMT

"I see your point, but i believe people with or without pets will treat the place in which they rent anyway they like! I don't see why pets are deemed so bad when renting a place!"

I think it's fair to say that not everyone has well behaved animals, or a conscience. My last landlord was cool about Jack living in his house but only once he'd met him and sussed him out for himself. I'm lucky in that he's never chewed, scratched etc.

How many people come to us at work with problems relating to animals becoming destructive, cats ripping up carpets, soiling indoors? The dogs that are vocal throughout the day etc?

I think it's kinda related to smoking too. I am a smoker and can see why a landlord would make his/her property non smoking. I'm in practice accomm now and that's one of the things I asked about before taking the job.

Not trying to upset anyone, just my tuppence worth

Re: landlords and pets

loopylou711 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:27:58 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

[quote user="loopylou711"]

I have 3 cats and landlord doesn't know!! But I make sure it doesn't smell and he also calls before he comes so plenty of time to get rid of them for few hours and tidy place up!! What he doesn't know can't hurt him....

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Hi, a dangerous game! I am a landlord and I am very strict about no cats (no ownership, no visiting cats, no encouraging strays into the house), My tenants have two dogs which I am cool about but I would give notice for them to vacate the property if I found out that they had a cat. I have had problems with cats in the past and have to say that I consider them a expensive nuisance from a letting point of view - especially indoor cats! They scratch furnishings, door frames, wall paper, dig up carpet if accidentally locked into a room, urinate & spray and once they urinated on a rug/carpet it has to be replaced before the next tenant moves in, the urine invariably wrecks the underlay as well so that also has to be replaced and cat hair seems to get embedded in carpets.Sorry to sound so harsh but, at the end of the day, I am renting out my home and I don't see why I should end up out of pocket because of somebody else's animals!

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Have to say my cats are well trained, they have wrecked a few chairs but to be fair when we moved in the guy was glueing them together and therefore don't think he will complain! We paid our deposit and are quite happy if he takes money off if he deems things to be "broken". Hes a decent guy and its his business! Been livng here 18 months and he hasn't said anything and doesn't know! We pay our rent on time, pay all our bills, and take as good care of place as someone with no cats if not better! The old people who lived here, ran up a debt didn't pay bills, wrecked the carpet by not hoovering it, wrecked the wooden floors and left the place a tip! So to be fair think he couldn't complain too much the place is immaculate!!!

I see your point, but i believe people with or without pets will treat the place in which they rent anyway they like! I don't see why pets are deemed so bad when renting a place!

Re: landlords and pets

Louise B — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:15:29 GMT

[quote user="loopylou711"]

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Hi, a dangerous game! I am a landlord and I am very strict about no cats. I have had problems with cats in the past and have to say that I consider them a expensive nuisance from a letting point of view - especially indoor cats! They scratch furnishings, door frames, wall paper, dig up carpet if accidentally locked into a room, urinate & spray and once they urinated on a rug/carpet it has to be replaced before the next tenant moves in, the urine invariably wrecks the underlay as well so that also has to be replaced and cat hair seems to get embedded in carpets. I feel awful because I am a vet nurse and currently live in rented accomodation (with pets) but my experiences of renting to cat owners were not positive. The last tenant with cats cost me circa £500 in repair bills for cat-related damage.

I think the problem is that the house is a city centre property (Coronation Street style properties) so there are alot of neighbourhood cats in a very small area which creates high levels of stress among the cats. I wouldn't be suprised if most of the neighbours are not also having problems with cats spraying or soiling indoors because they don't want to go outside. Whilst I was living there, I was away with work for a month - and came back to find a stray cat living in my bedroom despite my having my own two cats - so other cats were obviously using my catflap. My own two cats also suffered house-soiling issues so I think my house is just not a cat-friendly house - I think I am probably doing cats a favour by not letting them stay there!!!

Sorry to sound so harsh but, at the end of the day, I am renting out my home which just about breaks even financially and I don't see why I should end up out of pocket because of somebody else's animals!

Re: landlords and pets

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:58:16 GMT

As a landlord I'd rather someone had a dog than a cat. Although dogs can bark, that will annoy the neighbours, not the landlord! However, cats tend to be the destructive ones and leave the place wrecked!!! Scratching, peeing, climbing, etc.....

(Not that I mind it in my own cats - but a rented property is very different. The next tenant may not be so lenient!) I have to say my tenant IS allowed pets - just explaining the reasons why some don't!

Re: landlords and pets

Saz jam — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:58:18 GMT

Hi,

My mum has the same part buy part rent thing as you and she has a cat. When the rules about pets were mentioned before she bought the place the point they seemed to be making was that big, noisy dogs that may cause damage to the property were not allowed and a blind eye would be turned for cats etc.

To be on the safe side you could write your landlord a letter explaining how little noise and damage a cat would cause and as for your dog surely you need not mention that at all as you are just looking after him for a friend?!

Hope this helps and is not too rambley!

Saz

Re: landlords and pets

loopylou711 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:58:11 GMT

Re: landlords and pets

Steph Worsley — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:52:30 GMT

I agree, contact the company who have the other 40% or the company you are getting it through, my tenancy agreement states not pets I mentiuoned my cats and they were fine about it, but I always always check if its ok before I even go to look somewhere as I have 3 indoor cats, infact most landlords would prefer you to have a dog I found no idea why!!!

Re: landlords and pets

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:07:38 GMT

A friend of mine has a shared ownership property (50%) and its also states that no pets allowed! I would contact the company that owners the 40% remainder of the property