landlord makes tenants take care of their pet

lingin

hello,

I would like to find out if there is anything I can do in this situation.

me and my housemate moved in around 3 months ago and we dont have a signed contract with the landlord. upon my moving in, the landlord agreed to reduce the asking rent price, which i didnt force them to do, nor it had anything to do with the following issue.

when I moved in there were two cats living in the house, but the landlord confirmed they are going soon after I move in. one of the cats is gone, but it's been 3 months now and despite the landlord's continuous assurances that they are looking for where to put another - the cat is still here and i am taking care of it.

when i brought up that it wasn't what i agreed to do when we agreed on the rent price and etc, she told me i am getting a good deal already and she can not give me any allowance for taking care of the cat, she said that the cat doesnt really require taking care of (i feed and clean after it), also she mentioned she can find someone else to live in the house if i don't like it, and i feel sort of black mailed into taking care of it.

all this thing escallated after the cat brought flees from outside and infested the whole house, the landlord continuously denied the fact, said cat has treatment and that vet didnt find fleas on it - that it was because of the allergy cat has that it scratched.
however, after i found some of the fleas jumping in my bed (i have flea bites all over me) - i cought some to show to the landlord and also collected some of the flea dirt from the couch where the cat usually sleeps.
after seeing that, landlord had to conform and bought flea bomb and some spray for us to treat the house and furniture. however, we will have to do it ourselves. the landlord bought some treatment for the cat and the cat was left for us to take care of for at least another month until it is given away to some charity.

since we are only legally bound by verbal agreement and the deposits that we gave - does it mean we can not do anything about the situation and just have to deal with it and keep taking care of the pet? ( the landlord leaves it to us - with no guarantee that we feed it or care after it, we could easily keep it locked outside, however the animal is really nice and all, so we pity the thing that nobody wants, still i feel it is not our responsibility to be taking care of it, without any allowance, and being that we never agreed to do that.)

Since we don't have any assured tenancy agreement, does it mean issues like this are for us to deal with and the landlord can tell us to do anything, if we don't want to move out?

Thank you in advance for any information

DVardysShadow

Tell her that if the cat does not go, you are taking it to the RSPCA? And be prepared to find somewhere else.

caeler

OMG I can't believe your landlord expects you to take care of their pet!! This is shocking. I'm sure others will be along soon to explain your rights but I thought that although you don't have anything in writing it automatically becomes an AST and they still have to protect your deposit. I can't believe there is anything that can make you look after somebodies else animal in exchange for lower rent!!

What happens if you go away? Who looks after cat then!?

DVardysShadow

The upside is to write to the LL and keep a copy, asking for the cat to be removed, in order to get h on the record, then blame any feasible damage on the cat at checkout time

Geenie

Is your deposit protected? I would look into the rules of letting, even if you don't have an AST signed,and that in itself smacks of shoddy and underhand dealings by the LL!! Bet they are not paying tax.

If she has taken money off you for a deposit, you need to make sure it is protected so that you will get it back at the end................pigs flying overhead! :rolleyes:

My impression is that you have been taken for a ride over this whole thing. Get out as soon as possible. Good luck OP. You don't have an agreement, and report her to the local council.

blckbrd

Is there a reason why you've entered into such a shonky sounding arrangement and why your only gripe seems to be the cat? do yourself a faour and try a legitimate route to renting that affords you some enforceable legal rights.

1 yellow pages
2 local animal shelter
3 cardboard box
4 apply cat to box
5 apply box to animal shelter
6 assume suitably distressed facial expression
7 oops! sorry LL it must have run away...

caeler

blckbrd wrote: »

5 apply box to animal shelter
6 assume suitably distressed facial expression
7 oops! sorry LL it must have run away...

Love that!!!!!! :D

tbs624

If you & your friend have sole occupation of the property and you are paying regular rent, then, by default, your tenancy will be an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy), unless the rent is a *very* low rent, much lower than rents for a similar property of the same standard in the same area..

You are legally entitled to an address for your LL and to have the basic terms of your tenancy confirmed to you in writing.

Unless you breach a tenancy term ( such as damaging the property/not paying rent) she cannot kick you out before 6 months is up.

Tell the LL (in writing ) that you are ringing a local cat charity and getting them to take the cat within the week.

Were you shown an EPC before you moved in, have you got a gas safety certificate, info on where your tenancy deposit has been registered etc? Deposit registration doesn't apply in Scotland but if the property is in Eng or Wales you can check for yourself whether the LL has registered your deposit - see here.

Your LL probably doesn't have consent to let from her lender (if she has a mortgage on the property) and as Geenie, says, probably isn't declaring rental income to HMRC.

Look around for somewhere new - your "LL" seems to be a rank amateur. You may also want to have a look through the sticky for new renters up at the top of this board so that you are better prepared for the pitfalls of renting.

If you have further problems with the LL phone the private sector rentals officer /tenancy relations officer at the local council ( nothing to do with council housing) or talk to someone at Shelter 0808 800 4444 ( all manner of housing advice available)

Go via the local LL association or the councils accredited private LLs scheme to find somewhere more suitable.

Fire_Fox

Post here: http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php#2
And someone will help you find a rescue with space for this poor cat (most rescues are full at present).

missile

Tell LL you are getting a dog

clutton_2

keep bills for cat food - deduct it from rent each week