Cats, would you let to them?

ognum

Many thanks to all you who replied to my question regarding dogs in rentals.

Now my question is how about cats?

I have had a call from my letting agent to say they have a renter with two cats, how do I feel about it?

As I said before this is an unfurnished village home with large garden, 4 beds to baths, has new carpets.

I have agreed in principle, LA suggested an extra £500 deposit for each.

I have also asked that there should be no more than two cats at any time do you feel this is reasonable.

Thanks for helping me out on this!

talulahbeige_2

Being a cat owner in a rented house I feel £500 is a bit hefty! We paid £100 more deposit.

Personally I think it depends on the cat, a well trained adult cat is one thing, a kitten or young cat is another!.

mufi

I've had cats all my life and you can't train them! Most are naturally exceptionally clean, but this can go out of the window when they get very elderly.

Some damage furniture, doors, floors, woodwork and carpets, others are a cross between Mother Teresa and the Tooth Fairy, and you only find out which type you've got the hard way. £500 seems a reasonable deposit.

pmlindyloo

Cat owner here and was in a rental.

No extra deposit paid. Professional cleaning of carpets required at end of tenancy. Usual deposit should take care of anything else.

Agree about cats versus kittens.

Another consideration is a cat flap. We got permission to have one put in an outside door (professionally done) and put back to original when leaving. Cat litter trays (especially for 2 cats) are just too smelly for me!

sooz

With or without humans?

Human plus one cat is fine.
Human plus two cats are fine.
Human plus 3 or more is most likely mad cat lady.

Little extra deposit.
Carpets to be professionally cleaned & flea treated at end of tenancy
Specify number & names of cats in contract.
Cat flap approval ( or not) with full reinstatement of door at end of tenancy.

GAH

I thinks its a tricky one. I have never rented before. But have had a cat last 8 years.

Great little fella he is, but has the ability to go a bit crzy when he wants.

Clawed our old carpet, clawed our new carpet. Never clawed the scratching post we bought him but has torn our stairs bannisters to pieces.

If I was in rented, I would have been paying to have a new carpet put down, a prof clean and replace the whole bannisters.

If my current home was rented, im a moral person and would have paid(considerably more than £500) to have everything replaced, but knowing what some tenants are like, they wouldn't and a deposit may not cover it.

It does all come down to the cat though.

fannyanna

sooz wrote: »

Human plus one cat is fine.
Human plus two cats are fine.
Human plus 3 or more is most likely mad cat lady.

Phew, I'm just on the right side of being a mad cat lady

jjlandlord

sooz wrote: »

Specify number & names of cats in contract.

Yep. Otherwise it's impossible to have a reference check done on them.

sooz

If they have rented before do ask for cat references. Seriously.
But you don't need to credit check the cats

propertyman

You could get an older and wiser, bigger, Cat to stand guarantor..

Perhaps Lions? But I would avoid "Cheetahs" !

delain

We've got 2 cats, one never comes home, preferring the quiet, childless neighbours, so barely counts, my other cat (only a year old) is house trained, goes out so no trays, and has never damaged anything in its life, sleeps mostly and will be happily carried around without waking up.

We're looking for a 4 bed house (rentals) and honestly I've been told by LA's that they advise LLs to specify no pets which seems mad to me.

We've lived here for 5 years though so could provide cat references :rotfl:

I'd say maybe £500 is a bit steep, its a cat not a great dane.

Good luck anyway, hope you find tenants ok.