Prospective tenant has a dog?

wherediditallgothen

First time landlord letting out my house through an agent. They have found 1 tenant, who has a 10 year old Labrador.

Should I accept or hold out for someone who has no pets? I don't have any problems with pets per se, and the house is unfurnished, but I'm slightly worried about the dog damaging doors, and the flooring, etc. Also unsure of the potential for dog mess in the back garden, and (hopefully not!) the house.

Can anyone shed some light on this from their own experiences, either of being a tenant with a dog, a landlord in this situation, or an owner of 10 year old labradors please?

Thanks

dizziblonde

I've got a cat (disabled, quite elderly now - but don't say that when she can hear you). It's an increasing pain in the rear to find places to rent - because basically there are so many people chasing so few properties around here, the letting agents aren't even prepared to phone the landlord to ask if they'll consider a cat - they just tell you to go away and rehome her which I won't do, the poor mite's had a rough enough life.

What I've had to do in the past is to pay an additional deposit to cover any cat-related damage (there's never been any and it's always been returned in full), or have had clauses in my contract saying I have to have the carpets professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy and put right any pet-related damage (again - it would require her getting up off the sofa to DO any damage and she's a lazy nowt). Our current place has the carpet-cleaning clause - to be honest we'd be doing this anyway as it's got a cream carpet and they end up looking slightly grubby over time even if you never wear outdoor shoes inside and have rugs down as much as possible like we do anyway.

Depends if you're prepared to take the risk really - I'd say anyone with a pet that old is obviously clearly committed to them (the ASBO puppy phase is long over) and I'm, if anything, much much more conscientious about keeping the house tip top because I know just how hard it is to get a tenancy as a pet-owner. We tend to stay put much longer than lots of tenants as well I think - again, because of the difficulties finding new places to rent... we're only looking to move now as the time's come to buy (and this current LL is not awesome keeping things repaired), but I was in my last place for well over 4 years.

G_M

Many LLs avoid tenants with cats/dogs. Yes, you can take an additional deposit to cover damage, or build an extra cleaning fee into the contract, but it's not just about damage.

There is almost always a residual smell when the tenant leaves (often denied by dog lovers/owners who become immune!) which is off-putting to the next prospective tenants.

There is a risk of fleas - which often do not make themselves known till the next tenant moves in... and then starts to complain.

And as you point out there is the risk of damage, to floors, carpets, skirting boards, garden etc.

However, only you as LL can decide what policy you wish to follow, and it may depend how many prospective tenants you have, how long the property's been marketed for, and how desperate you are to get rent coming in.

wherediditallgothen

G_M wrote: »

Many LLs avoid tenants with cats/dogs. Yes, you can take an additional deposit to cover damage, or build an extra cleaning fee into the contract, but it's not just about damage.

There is almost always a residual smell when the tenant leaves (often denied by dog lovers/owners who become immune!) which is off-putting to the next prospective tenants.

There is a risk of fleas - which often do not make themselves known till the next tenant moves in... and then starts to complain.

And as you point out there is the risk of damage, to floors, carpets, skirting boards, garden etc.

However, only you as LL can decide what policy you wish to follow, and it may depend how many prospective tenants you have, how long the property's been marketed for, and how desperate you are to get rent coming in.

Yup, there are definitely doubts in my mind about it. It's only been advertised on the agent's site for about a day, but I'm reasonably desperate to get someone in. If I knew that someone with no pets was going to apply in the next few days, I'd probably decline.

Much as like pets, I think the costs outweight the benefits somewhat. Just thought I'd get an outside opinion or several.

tbs624

A 10 year old lab is not a door-gnawing puppy. Have they previously been Ts elsewhere - ask for refs from last 2 LLs if so.

Ask to meet potential T and the mutt, and ask for a higher tenant deposit with a requirement that the T pay for any necessary anti-flea treatment ( get the relevant costs from the local Council pest control dept)

Some human non -pet-owning Ts unfortunately leave your property with a distinct odour .....

wherediditallgothen

tbs624 wrote: »

A 10 year old lab is not a door-gnawing puppy. Have they previously been Ts elsewhere - ask for refs from last 2 LLs if so.

Ask to meet potential T and the mutt, and ask for a higher tenant deposit with a requirement that the T pay for any necessary anti-flea treatment ( get the relevant costs from the local Council pest control dept)

Good advice thanks.

Some human non -pet-owning Ts unfortunately leave your property with a distinct odour .....

Yes, and I bet some cases the odour can be worse than any animal could ever leave :rotfl:

poppysarah

Visit where they live now and see if the dog's eaten the walls

flaura

Personally i am both a landlord with tenant with puppy - no issue for me and I am tenant with 5 year old dog....

we paid a higher deposit....
we asked our tenant for a higer deposit......

a 10 year old dog is distinctly more unlikey to cause damage than a chewy bored puppy, plus most peoples pet insurance if they have it will cover damage to 3rd party property...

personally it doesn't wouldn't bother me and from a tenant point of view i wish that more landlords felt the same way

Sagz_2

The 'Lets With Pets' website has lots of handy tips for landlords (and tenants):
http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/landlords/

Vincenzo

Personally I don't let to tenants with animals. I am especially anti dogs. This is not just because of the potential damage to the property but also the nuisance they can be to neighbours.

If you really need the tenant, ask for a higher rent as well as a higher deposit and ensure you have the place professionally cleaned with a stipulation (in the lease) that they must do the same at the end of the tenancy. Also ensure you have a comprehensive photographic inventory.

mrcol1000

As others have said a 10year old dog should be better behaved than a puppy. So there should be no noise nusiance or gnawing. We have a dog and when we rented the landlord was okay with it but insited on visiting every 3 months to inspect the property. We had no problems. To be hoenst if your going to have a bad tenant your have one regardless if they have dogs.
Although If you change your mind and accept the tenant and dog I'd make sure its clear to them its only this dog your accepting not a free reign over getting pets. You don't want them to get a puppy in addition to the dog which causes problems.