Pets not allowed!

ecclesto

I have just rented my house out through an agent and stipulated no pets. I have found out that 2 labrador dogs were spotted in my back garden last night. As yet I don't know if they are living there or just visiting but I do not want any pets at all in my garden or house. Would the No pets in the contract extend to visitors or not?

boo1

I would imagine that if you wanted no pets at all in your property (ie even people visiting your tenants with pets) then it should have been stipulated in the lease agreement. However, I may be wrong and someone will be along soon who can give you better advice...

Mind_the_Gap

You can stipulate No Pets in your tenancy contract, but in practice this is difficult to enforce unless they are illegally running a kennels or something. If the Ts ignore the clause, you could serve a section 8 notice citing ground 12 (non-rent-related breach of contract) but a possession order would only be discretionary, not mandatory. You would have to hope you got a judge who loathed dogs.

Better to try to nip it in the bud early if you can; ring up and say you have reason to believe they have three dogs at the property and you are dismayed as the contract specifically doesn't allow pets. Ask them to explain.

In the end, if they keep dogs there and you do not wish to evict them, you can claim against their deposit for any damage/cleaning this necessitates when they leave.

G_M

There have also been cases claiming a blanket 'no pets' clause is an unfair term, so unenforcible, since it is unreasonable to dictate people's lifestyle. A goldfish in a bowl, for example, has no adverse consequences on the property, so it is unfair to catagorise it in the same way as, say, labradors.

Your clause should therefore be more specific - a blanket 'no pets' ban will be unenforcible.

How long is the contract? 6 months? You may have to sit it out, give a S21 in good time, and hope for better tenants next time.

ecclesto

My contract is for 6 months but I am allergic to pets and so there was a health reason for the contract. I might be going back to the house hence the clause!!!

Werdnal

ecclesto wrote: »

My contract is for 6 months but I am allergic to pets and so there was a health reason for the contract. I might be going back to the house hence the clause!!!

It is not unreasonable, even when you agree to having pets, that a full professional cleaning service is done on the property at the end of the tenancy. Even if you were not planning to live there yourself, future tenants could have allergy problems, so this is usually considered an acceptable cost for deduction from deposit. I assume you have taken a deposit from these tenants and it is protected in a scheme?

Did you make a full and thorough inventory at the time of letting? If so, any additional damage by pets, can also be claimed at the end of the tenancy.

As stated above, it is very difficult to enforce NO PETS, so even if your tenant can prove they are not living there, they may have regular visitors or family members who bring pets to the property. Its a bit like those retirement properties that stipulate tenants must be over 55 - but you cannot really stop their children and grandchildren visiting!

As previously advised, approach the tenants and tell them you have reason to believe that dogs have been at the property, and re-iterate the no pets rule. If they are keeping dogs, then wait until the right time and issue notice.