Renting to tenants with pets

PasturesNew

You can't take more than two months' deposit in any case - and you can't invent bizarre terms and conditions to try to get round this as the law over-rides any odd terms in a tenancy that are inserted on a LL's amateur whim.

cooltt

Hello OP i too have a little !!!!! cat and take full responsibility for any damage or excessive wear and tear she may cause. However any responsible pet owner will take steps to make sure this doesn't happen such as house training and providing toys to play with etc..

People often comment on how clean and tidy my flat is compared to their homes that are occupied by children!

You should not be afraid to ask for extra assurances form any tenant in writing about repairing any damage a pet may cause. I always feel that if a pet smells strongly of any odour it's not a good sign.

fluffnutter

Perhaps you could also consider what you'd do if there were complaints? I live in a terraced house next to a rental property. All the tenants have been perfectly pleasant, but there was one couple who had a dog. A dog which barked all day every day as it was left alone when they went to work. It made my life completely miserable. Of course, I could have had this problem next to a owner-occupied house, but as the landlord it's something you might need to consider.

Perr

I have 2 dogs and the L/Lord was fine with it, before I moved In I asked if I could pay for a hard wood in the Living room and he was fine with that. My dogs do not slip or slide on the floor it has now been down 3yrs and there is no damage or marks on the floor at all.

dizziblonde

I had a cat which did no damage to anywhere we rented at all - letting agencies, not landlords are the big problem - lots round here won't even make a phonecall to their landlords to ASK if they'll consider a pet... it was what drove us to scrape together the cash to buy in the end. The dog was an acquisition after we moved because it was getting ridiculously hard to find somewhere to rent with one slightly elderly three legged cat - let alone a canine.

In terms of damage (and since it's my own house I do NOT expect to be bashed here - we didn't get the dog till we'd bought) - the dog's scratched the kitchen door (we now have a baby gate blocking him getting to it) and a few yellow doggy pee scorch marks on the lawn - that's it in terms of pet-related damage. The cat did nothing damagewise (for that would require her moving her furry little rear from the sofa) in any of the places we've rented. While he slips and slides on the laminate in the kitchen - he's not damaged it in any way - so it might be something to consider... we did rent one place with laminate floors and a three legged cat coming running down the stairs at the sound of the food cupboard opening and then trying to decellerate to corner on a laminate hall floor and going thunk flying into the front door was very very amusing... followed by the subsequent indignant flounce as we laughed at her misfortune (yes I'm a rotten person - it's hard to flounce on three legs!)

In one place my mum did blag a 25% reduction in the additional pet damage deposit on the grounds that, as an amputee she had 25% less claws though! (Much to my massive embarassment as she did it)

As for carpets - I've got a cream carpet (and a black dog and cat - I must be mad!) as it was too good to rip up when we moved in - while it can look dreadful if I haven't hoovered that day - it comes up fine when I do hoover, and has survived unscathed. I want to replace it with laminate and rugs when we get the spare money though long-term - but that's just because I hate cream carpet!

babyemily

I am desperate to move and because I have pets I cant get a look in. As soon as I mention them to the LA's its a straight NO but I have willingly offered for them to come to where I live now and see how clean, tidy and well maintained my house is. My house is always being decorated as my husband is a plumber/tiler/builder etc...I would love people to see that most of us with pets are incredibly houseproud and responsible. I have to agree with judy - My kids have caused way more damage then my pets!!!

*Robin*

Thank you to everyone who has commented.

I agree that children are possibly more likely to cause noise and damage than a well-behaved pet, but think that it's unlikely any senior professionals with children would want to rent long-term in this area; they would be more likely to want a short tenancy while they're buying their own place. I am really looking for someone who wants to rent a home for several years.

As it's a detached, double-glazed house I know that the neighbours can't hear my dogs when they get excited at meal-times - I did go round and ask, at a time when I was looking after two family dogs as well as my own, so I'm not too worried about that aspect. I suppose if the dogs were locked outside in the walled garden all day noise could be a problem - that's something to think about.

There is only one other house in the close that is rented out, to rotating senior USAF personnel. The owner lets through the local LA, but I'm not impressed with them as I've never been able to get hold of them when there's a problem. I have accounts with a local plumber and handy-man who have agreed to sort out any problems my tenants might have promptly, and the central heating is insured. I've already got a gas-safe certificate. My brother lives locally and is on hand to answer any queries, so I was not intending to employ the LA. I would rather select my tenants myself.

PasturesNew wrote: »

You can't take more than two months' deposit in any case - and you can't invent bizarre terms and conditions to try to get round this as the law over-rides any odd terms in a tenancy that are inserted on a LL's amateur whim.

Thank you. So the fact that the house will have been professionally cleaned before the tenancy begins should be enough to ensure that the tenants have it done again when they leave, to return the house to the condition it was in when the tenancy started?
What about my idea of naming the approved pets on the TA - is that legal?

I think I will leave the carpets as they are for now, as they've got plenty of life left in them, and deal with requests for replacement as they arise.

My next question is where best to advertise, apart from the local paper? Gumtree is not appropriate for this kind of property.

katygeorge

thankyou for this, more people need to accept pets, there not all bad. my LA has asked me to give a £1000.00 deposit instead of the £650.00 that is asked and to have a pet contract added to my TA that says i will have house professionally cleaned and all carpets steam cleaned at my expence and prove so with reciepts at check out.

hope that helps

katygeorge

just read something about hard floors and big dogs. i have a 12 stone bullmastiff and laminate flooring, we have lived in my home for 5 years na dmy floor is not damaged. yes she makes some noise on it but im not in a flat so only i can hear it. It all depends on the quality of your laminate i paid alot for mine, but if you go wit hsome £5 a pack from floors to go then yes i would expect it to look pretty crap pretty quick. i advise hard floors and i wont be renting anywhere with carpet on ground floor as i know how hard it will be to keep looking clean as most retals have light carpets