Renting with pets

CapnCJ

This is sort of a follow on from another thread.

Looking to rent somewhere, but between the 3 of us that are in on this caper we have 3 pets. 2 of them are lizards (A bearded dragon and a Leopard Gecko), and a tortoise. They're causing us huge trouble to be honest. Every letting agency we talk to has a blanket "no pets" stance, which infuriates me because any sane landlord will be fine with them - They spend all their time in vivariums. No noise, no smells, no scratching at furniture or peeing everywhere.

Is it a better idea to just not declare them?

diable

CapnCJ wrote: »

This is sort of a follow on from another thread.

Looking to rent somewhere, but between the 3 of us that are in on this caper we have 3 pets. 2 of them are lizards (A bearded dragon and a Leopard Gecko), and a tortoise. They're causing us huge trouble to be honest. Every letting agency we talk to has a blanket "no pets" stance, which infuriates me because any sane landlord will be fine with them - They spend all their time in vivariums. No noise, no smells, no scratching at furniture or peeing everywhere.

Is it a better idea to just not declare them?

Just make sure they pay their way as lizards can be a be slippery with the funds at times.......




Only kidding and the best of luck in getting a sensible answer ;o))

PasturesNew

They really mean "no smelly dogs" and "nothing that might escape and scare the bejeezus out of the neighbours", like a tarantula.

Tell the agents you have no pets. Simples.

It's not like you'd be hiding a Dulux dog or three.

tbs624

Talk direct to the LL. It's generally cats and dogs that cause issues.

dehydrato

We rent out a house and we actively wanted someone with dogs to take it! - we have dogs, the garden is totally dog proof & opens onto a big park so we thought it would be wasted on non dog owners!

Despite telling the agent this we heard them telling people there were no pets allowed! We had a viewer booked (the agent didn't show up for the viewing but that's another story) who owned 3 German Shepherds and a terrier and we would have been quite happy with that.

If you see a property you like I would pop a letter to the owner through the door and explain the situation.

Davesnave

It's hard to say what to do, but when we set out to rent in 2008/9 we had two cats and two ferrets.:eek: (Ferrets live outside!)
We thought this might create an issue, as we wished to rent in a small city, but preliminary enquiries by 'phone showed this was not a problem at all. Most agents put in the no pets clause, but said that the majority of thir properties were 'flexible' in this respect. They tended to judge each case on its merits.

In the city/surrounds we found 3 properties in 24 hours that would have fitted the bill, one of which even came with a cat flap installed by the previous tenant. Perhaps obviously, none was brand new or a total refurb, but neither was any of them a dump.

One of the ferrets later went off to uni in another city and found no difficulty finding another landlord with a ground floor room overlooking a suitable garden.

If you are getting that response, then you possibly live somewhere where demand exceeds supply and may have to say nothing. After all you should always get at least 24 hrs notice of a landlord visit and, anyway, what sane landlord would evict a good tenant over a well-behaved gecko, especially if it were temporarily housed in the loft?

moromir

PasturesNew wrote:

Tell the agents you have no pets. Simples.

The problem with lying is that eventually, you'll be caught out.

Then your agent is in panic mode wondering what else you've lied about and there are plenty of landlords who wouldn't think twice about serving notice under those circumstances.

Be upfront, and respect the landlord's wish not to have pets if that is his decision.

5850matty

Why don't you agree to a "deinfestation" clean after your agreement finishes - Not that your pets will be free to roam the house but that's the clause that gave my landlord the comfort of letting me rent with my English Springer Spaniel ... which BTW doesn't have fleas !

Davesnave

5850matty wrote: »

Why don't you agree to a "deinfestation" clean after your agreement finishes - Not that your pets will be free to roam the house but that's the clause that gave my landlord the comfort of letting me rent with my English Springer Spaniel ... which BTW doesn't have fleas !

I'm sure your dog is lovely, as was the Springer who used to ride in the back of our old car before we bought it, but the smell (which owners probably become desensitised to) never goes, no matter what cleaning products are used.

Every time the sun came out....:eek:

Give me a gecko any day!

Duffield1

We considered offering to buy carpets to sit on top of all those already in the house, so that if there was any smell or damage to soft furnishings, they would all be removed when we vacated. Don't know how well that would be received by landlords, but might be worth a try - cheap carpet is only about £3 sqm.

pinkshoes

I would just say you have no pets, then when into the tenancy, perhaps let the LL know you've acquired them.

It's only a small lie, but it's not like you have pets that destroy houses! A dog or cat is completely different.

Besides, as you are entitled to quiet enjoyment, then how would the LL ever know, unless you invite them in??