Eviction for having too many cats!

palmer1986

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice. I have recently started renting a property in Dec 2011 and on my tenancy agreement I am allowed one cat.

In Jan 12 our fence blew down in the wind and we the let the letting agency know. One of the Landlords employees bodged this up and went away. In April 12 the landlord arrived to fix this and didn't give us any notice and saw we had 4 cats not 1. Our fault I know but we gained these cats from a poorly relative. He made us aware about the extra 3 cats and got straight onto the fone to the letting agency.

The letting agency came and did an inspection and addressed the issue saying we need to get rid of the cats. they said they would come back a week later. Within that time I have spoken to the letting agency to see if we could pay more rent or insurance for the additional cats. Bearing in mind we have already paid additional deposit for one cat of £100 and paid for premium house insurance due to the cat.

The letting agent arrived to the property with the landlord a week later and we had notice for this. I advised them that our kitchen tap has broken the morning before the inspection. When the arrived the landlord said i should pay for it because it was broken, I disagreed with this as this is wear and tear and why would I want to break the tap intentionally. Following on from this he said he wants us out of the property even if we get rid of the cats which I am not happy to do anyway as we have breech his agreement. I have tried to negotiate to resolve the situation but he wants us out. our lease expires in just over month and I can honestly say I will not have the deposit to put down on a new house to let before I have to get out.

Where do I stand in terms of my rights as to when I need to be out?

I have been told I will be receiving a letter to say I need to be out within 60 days. Is it advisable that I cancel my standing order for the rent as I need this money to pay for the deposit for the new property that I am going to be moving into.

Any help and I would be grateful. Thanks.

missile

Whatever the details, it seems you have alienated your LL and he wants to terminate your lease. I would suggest you look for a.n.other property.

You should try to mend bridges if you expect to get a reference.

palmer1986

Thanks for your response. I'm just more worried about getting the money together for a new home to let and not receiving my deposit back. Is it worth cancelling the standing order or do you think this would just make the matter alot worse?

ticktack_2

palmer1986 wrote: »

Thanks for your response. I'm just more worried about getting the money together for a new home to let and not receiving my deposit back. Is it worth cancelling the standing order or do you think this would just make the matter alot worse?

A lot worse. You would have trouble being accepted for a new rental if you don't have a reference from your current landlord. And he's not likely to give you a satisfactory reference if you first move in too many cats, concealing the fact from him, and then stop paying your rent. Who would accept such a tenant?

palmer1986

I just don't know how I can get the money together for a deposit for a another property in 2 months without getting my deposit back for the property that I have. I don't really want to end up homeless..

ticktack_2

As suggested by missile, you need to make things right with your landlord. Getting rid of all cats might be a good starting place, if you haven't already done so.

Old_Git

you can always sit where you are and not move out until you are forced by a court .Then you will be homeless and the council may help .

tbs624

palmer1986 wrote: »

I'm looking for some advice. I have recently started renting a property in Dec 2011 and on my tenancy agreement I am allowed one cat.
......................saw we had 4 cats not 1. Our fault I know but we gained these cats from a poorly relative.

Many LLs are reluctant to agree to Ts having cats/dogs because of the obvious potential for damage to the property and its furnishings plus possible issues with fleas: your LL was fair on the face of it and yet you didn't think it appropriate to discuss bringing more pets to the property, before actually doing so?

palmer1986 wrote: »

The letting agent arrived to the property with the landlord a week later and we had notice for this. I advised them that our kitchen tap has broken the morning before the inspection. When the arrived the landlord said i should pay for it because it was broken, I disagreed with this as this is wear and tear and why would I want to break the tap intentionally. Following on from this he said he wants us out of the property even if we get rid of the cats which I am not happy to do anyway as we have breech his agreement. I have tried to negotiate to resolve the situation but he wants us out. our lease expires in just over month and I can honestly say I will not have the deposit to put down on a new house to let before I have to get out.

Where do I stand in terms of my rights as to when I need to be out?

I have been told I will be receiving a letter to say I need to be out within 60 days.

Your LL will need to have served you with a S21 Notice of Intent to repossess the property, giving a minimum of two months notice. This does not mean that you have to actually be out when the Fixed term of your tenancy expires: what it means is that, if the S21 was validly served, the LL may apply to the courts for a possession order after the FT expiry date, using bailiffs to enforce if you do not move out. Staying put after the FT expiry would afford you some extra time although it will not endear you to your LL.

Note that if your LL has not scheme registered your tenancy deposit *and* given you the scheme's prescribed information then any S21 notice will be void. Do you know whether your deposit ( inc the pet extra part) has been registered?

palmer1986 wrote: »

Is it advisable that I cancel my standing order for the rent as I need this money to pay for the deposit for the new property that I am going to be moving into.

No. The LL can pursue you to court for unpaid rent and this plus the extra cats issue would mean that your LL is unlikely to give you a decent reference . That said sometimes LLs who want shut of a T without too much hassle may be less inclined to flag up any negatives.......

Can you really not negotiate with the LL for a further tenancy , starting off by finding new homes for the other 3 cats, pronto?

Make sure that all repairs issues are notified to the LL in writing, with a copy kept by you. If you have a look on the mydeposits website there is a guide to what constitues fair wear and tear, drawn up by all three deposit schemes.

Was there a jointly signed inventory in place at the start of the tenancy btw?

If you are on a low income you may be able to get help from the local Council, via a bond guarantee in place of a deposit. Alternatively, do you have any relatives who could help you out temporarily?

ognum

I think this is very unfortunate and has the potential to put other landlords off letting to people with animals.

The landlord tenant relationship has potential to be stormy and whilst it is your home you have it on trust that you will not breach the terms of your rental.

I unstandardised you need to find the cash for a future rental but like many people you did not consider this before agreeing to increase your menagerie.

I would suggest a conversation with the landlord, suggest he comes and visits the house, make sure you only have one cat as agreed and explain your needs whilest being understanding to him.

I would not suggesting withholding rent, your reference may not be good now it will be very bad if you with hold rent and the likelyhood of getting a new rental will be nil.

einfopedia

yes this is the fact that you must have to take the another property which is best for you and also its depend on you that you have to sit always there.

LandyAndy

einfopedia wrote: »

yes this is the fact that you must have to take the another property which is best for you and also its depend on you that you have to sit always there.

Thank you for clearing that up.