can freeholders ban pets?

mrsS_2

are they going to put clauses in saying no children as well? surely a small child causes more noise, mess and general disruption than the odd cat? (well mine did anyway!)

I used this argument when I was renting and the letting agent decided that as my old moggy would not be up to crayoning on the walls in the common areas that (possibly unlike my toddler- not that he did by the way) he would be allowed to come with us.

The only stipulation was that if when we left that the house was found to be infested with little bitey jumping things that we would have to pay for fumigation.

This may be the reason that pets are banned in some places?

Conrad

mrsS wrote:

are they going to put clauses in saying no children as well? surely a small child causes more noise, mess and general disruption than the odd cat? (well mine did anyway!)

Cat owners are disliked where I live due to the amount of wild creatures they kill.
I would put the needs / rights of wild creatures well above the needs of selfish people wanting the emmotinal pleasure a catbrings. Afterall cats all stem from the African wild cat, and have no place in Britain.

No doubt those cat lovers out there are the same type who unthinkingly buy furniture which uses ancient rainforest timber, never mind the thousands of creatures that need those trees for thier very existance. Of course they will say Humans have greater rights than dumb creatures, even though there are billions of us yet just a handful of Orangutans left. Ahhh, bless as long as Mrs Jones has a dark wood table, thats all that matters.

mrsS_2

I think we have moved slightly from the original question if we are now talking about wood from rainforests and endangered species!

My cats actually do a good job in keeping our local rat population at bay (lets face it every town has them) and keep the grey squirrels from eating ALL the bird food we put out.

Scottish wildcat-is this native or imported?

BobProperty

Conrad wrote:

Cat owners are disliked where I live due to the amount of wild creatures they kill.
I would put the needs / rights of wild creatures well above the needs of selfish people wanting the emmotinal pleasure a catbrings. Afterall cats all stem from the African wild cat, and have no place in Britain.

No doubt those cat lovers out there are the same type who unthinkingly buy furniture which uses ancient rainforest timber, never mind the thousands of creatures that need those trees for thier very existance.....

Only a few sweeping generalisations, misconceptions and half-truths in there - ever thought of going into politics?

Back to the topic, one point that has only partly been covered, if it already has a clause in the lease saying no pets or something similar, you presumably are deemed to know about it and have accepted it when you bought the place.

LittleTinker

Jamz wrote:

If you think a few walks a day is enough time outside for a dog then your mistaken..

So....not just flats then???

Anyone who lives in a terraced house, or any house for that matter, without a garden cant have a dog either???

What about all those people who live on main roads in houses without gardens??

Of Course you can have a dog without a garden!!

DebtEverest

LittleTinker wrote:

So....not just flats then???

Anyone who lives in a terraced house, or any house for that matter, without a garden cant have a dog either???

What about all those people who live on main roads in houses without gardens??

Of Course you can have a dog without a garden!!

I live - with my dog and husband - in a leasehold, terraced house with no garden on a main road, though the houses are surrounded by communal gardens. And the dog is perfectly happy!

Jamz, are you of the opinion that dogs should be kept outsides in all weathers then - if a 'few walks a day' is not enough?

seven-day-weekend

I used to let out a flat on an AST (although I wasn't the freeholder). I specified no dogs, but other pets would be considered.

I also specified non smokers only. Some people say no children.

My family home in the Uk is lived in by my son who lives with two lodgers. We always specify for the lodgers no pets and no smoking. (Although a previous lodger asked permission to keep fish in a tank and we gave it to him). My son has two cats of his own and we do not want any more cats, and certainly no dogs, in the house.

What's the problem? Surely people can rent their property to whom they wish?

If you've bought a leasehold flat, then I would think you knew things like that before you bought it. Our investment flat had a clause from the freeholder saying that dogs and cats were allowed but they must not cause a nuisance to other people. We knew this before we bought it.

pigeonpie

We are stuck with leasehold as there is nothing else on the market to buy and we need a home. I would prefer s.o.f. but you can only buy what you can.
The lease says no pets without permission which can be revoked at any time. So we are making that one of (a few!) suspensive clauses.
We believe that it is a basic human right to have a pet, esp as I am at home nearly all day, but of course it should not bother others in the building. Certainly makes less noise than the shrieking toddler on the 1st floor!
My point is that paying top whack for a flat in London, just because a freeholder personally hates dogs, he can ban them. OK so the problem is with the leasehold system,which is feudal. But even if your pets don't cause anyone any problem, he can ban them. He can revoke permission to keep a pet even once granted - so is there any legal guideline on what is reasonable, as we believe a freeholder can't behave 'unreasonably'?

Give me France where a law has been passed allowing all property owners to keep pets as long as they aren't a nuisance.But then they don't have leasehold & it's a lot more pet friendly than here. I believe Belgium is the same. (think USA too, as this govt/country always looks west!). This old coot of a freeholder paid about 15gs for a freehold investment and then tells people whether or not they can keep a pet?!
One woman here has 2 big dogs which bother no-one. But she's a tenant so if anyone miserable complains, she can move.
Believe me, this is the only flat for sale that we've seen in an area where everything is going sealed bids as there is nothing for sale. We have lost out on 3 others, which all went for far too much. If we let it go and keep renting we'll be priced out by next Spring.

hazeyj

If you get written permission from the leaseholders who live above, below and either side next to you then you should get permission. Its simply in the lease to protect your neighbours. Also you will have to sign an agreement whereby you pay for any damage that is caused to common parts by your pet.

If the freeholder refuses after youve provided this he is being unreasonable and you should be able to force him to agree.

Good luck.

Doglover88

I had my goldfish for over 2 weeks til she snuffed it and my landlord didnt bat an eyelid