anyone know EU law on keeping pets in flats?

gabyjane

My sister may find this thread interesting as she lives in a flat. She would love a cat and has asked but been told no, however her neighbour opposite has a dog so i think it seems very unfair. Not sure on her tenancy tbh but surely it can't be one rule for one and one for the other?
The last post quote and reply are daft imo..you either allow or don't..you wil get people saying anything to be able to keep a pet surely? no dog imo is guarunteed safe as such..cats can be nosiy and a pain too (i am a cat owner so on the fence with this one)..birds etc make a racket too so it's either a yes or no unless you are prepared to vet everyones daily routine!

As for the asthma attack or anaphylactic shock part..surely this could happen anywhere if out and about near pets? maybe iv'e misread this bit..seems odd?

3plus1

gabyjane wrote: »

As for the asthma attack or anaphylactic shock part..surely this could happen anywhere if out and about near pets? maybe iv'e misread this bit..seems odd?

The difference is, I expect there to be animals outdoors. Animals in an open space aren't so bad, because all of the air circulating mitigates the allergens.

You don't tend to get animals inside in closed spaces. Guide dogs, yes, but they're largely fine. I don't know enough about breeds to explain why - shortered haired dogs aren't as bad for provoking allergic reactions, but guide dogs don't seem to have particularly short hair. All I know is that being near one has never made me ill, personally. Other dogs, yes.

If people keep dogs in their flats and walk them up and down the stairwells to get out and get home, the communal area gets covered in dander and people like me get very ill. In my experience, most communal stairwells have carpet on them (all the better for attracting animal hairs) and are largely uncleaned as the upkeep tends to be a communal effort and people just don't bother.

I can't avoid animals outside. But I expect to feel safe in my own home. It's not a pleasant feeling when your throat starts swelling shut and you know death is becoming a real possibility.

House cats tend to stay inside someone else's home, i.e. not in the communal area. That's why cats pose less of an issue.

Fire_Fox

gabyjane wrote: »

As for the asthma attack or anaphylactic shock part..surely this could happen anywhere if out and about near pets? maybe iv'e misread this bit..seems odd?

Management companies are often set up as a limited company so need to consider all aspects of health and safety, that is a statutory obligation. My parents' block partially self-manages and my father was a director for a while: they discussed pretty much what 3plus1 said in the above post. They have actually experienced an indoor cat allowed to wander the corridors!

ILW

If I had bought or rented a flat on the basis that it was an animal free zone and then the managing agents changed the conditions, I would be very tempted to sue for breach of contract.

princeofpounds

As a management company you may also need to consider the health and safety aspects - dogs or cats allowed into communal areas may cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

You might as well try to ban peanuts in communal areas.

I should imagine that a mgmt company could only get in trouble here if it banned pets, then not only failed to enforce bans but actively allowed pets, then were told someone had a problem, still failed to enforce, then that person fell ill.

I can appreciate it's unpleasant but you would have to go quite some way towards demonstrating negligence.

princeofpounds

If I had bought or rented a flat on the basis that it was an animal free zone and then the managing agents changed the conditions, I would be very tempted to sue for breach of contract.

Agents cannot change conditions. Only freeholders can, and only with the consent of leaseholders once the lease has been set up (unless a LVT intervenes in a lease somewhere).

gabyjane

Reading more i think the whole idea is madness!! people who have pets (and i'm only speaking personally here) will love them like their kids etc..if i was told to get rid of my cats due to my neighbour having a possible asthma attack or anaphylactic shock i think id'e move! I understand what a problem it is for you and without sounding unsympathetic i would suggest looking for a no pets flat as once in it's prob very hard to get out/change.
lol at the peanuts comment!!!

Fire_Fox

princeofpounds wrote: »

You might as well try to ban peanuts in communal areas.

I should imagine that a mgmt company could only get in trouble here if it banned pets, then not only failed to enforce bans but actively allowed pets, then were told someone had a problem, still failed to enforce, then that person fell ill.

I can appreciate it's unpleasant but you would have to go quite some way towards demonstrating negligence.

Neither of my posts suggests that management companies should ban pets, I simply said they should consider the health and safety aspects in order to fulfil their statutory duty. Given that my indoor rescue cat will be delivered to my flat next weekend it would be somewhat hypocritical! It depends very much on the layout of the building whether there is a risk that an occupant's dog would come into regular contact with the neighbours.