A small dog with a tenancy which does not allow pets

tbs624

rosered1963 wrote: »

Edit - the agency is legally obliged to give you the contact details of the landlord, if you ask them in writing. Our agency tried to withhold it - they don't want you talking to the landlord but it's your right to have the contact details. (I can provide a source for this if you really need it)

My bolding. See G_M's post , number 6:). Note that this does not include anything other than name and an address - there is no obligation to give other contact details such as phone no. The address has to be the LL's "place of abode or place of business or, in the case of a company, its registered office"

T can also check at the Land Registry (4 quid fee)

Note too that it is not always the LA who seeks to keep the LLs address off limits - some LLs prefer to hide behind their LA if they can get away with it.

OP - as others have said, you should try to talk direct to the LL and sweeten your request by offering to pay for flea treatment on exit plus a further sum specifcally to cover and dog related damage or addtional cleaning ( they should add any such additonal tenancy deposit to the amount registered with the relevant tenancy deposit scheme)

Dogs do piddle (and worse) on carpets and chew up door frames, scratch at laminate flooring etc so your comment about there being no furniture belonging to the LL does not let you of the hook in terms of the potential for damage to property belonging to the LL.

Regardless of talk of "its me human rights, innit ", you knew that you were signing up to a property which had a no pets clause. Time to ask the LL is clearly *before* taking on a pet. (In recognition of this, most animal rescue centres will ask to see proof of LLs consent before allowing an adoption.)

LL may of course decide that you should move on at the earliest possible opportunity and any reference given by him/her to other potential LLs would be likely to include mention of your action in bringing a dog into the property, despite having agreed to that no pets clause.

Much is likely depend on how "reliable" a T you are ( ie, whether LL would like to retain you as a T) and how you approach the matter.

Jangin

ALL dogs need regular walking regardless of their size!

Werdnal

If you really want the dog and the partner to move in, you might have to negotiate a little with the LL to make it worth their while. As others have said, despite what you think, any animal in a property can have consequences - soiled floors, scratches, etc. Also, if you have a single person tenancy, and your partner is going to be living there permanently, this will lead to more wear and tear on the property.

Approach the LA/LL and discuss it. Some LLs do impose a blanket ban on all pets, purely because some are more detrimental on the property than others, and its easier to say NO PETS at all, than have to tell someone they cannot have 3 6 stone Rotties, whilst they could feasibly agree that your little dog is not really going to cause much of an issue. Indeed, LLs who do accept pets, often impose a higher deposit to cover any perceived problems of having a dog in the property.

So, contact the LL direct, explaining the issue with the dog, and your partner's wish to move in. Offer to increase your deposit to cover any increased damage by having an additional person and a pet in the property, and see what they say. If its still no, you know where you stand. Infact the LL may be happy to have a little dog, but might even baulk at having your partner living there when they are not on the tenancy agreement, and causing the additional wear and tear of an extra body in the house!

My neice has 3 tiny Yorkies, and she has problems finding properties that accept dogs. However, she always asks to speak to the LL, and the last 2 places she has rented, despite being advertised no pets, have agreed to allow hers.

There is nothing more annoying to a LL than a tenant who has total disregard for the rules of the tenancy. As state before, if the LL finds out about the dog later, expect notice as soon as they can legally issue it. Then you will have the problem of finding somewhere else and having to declare you have a dog at the start, which could even be more difficult. Come clean to your current LL now, offer a little extra deposit and you may be surprised!

BristolBob

Werdnal wrote: »

There is nothing more annoying to a LL than a tenant who has total disregard for the rules of the tenancy. As state before, if the LL finds out about the dog later, expect notice as soon as they can legally issue it. Then you will have the problem of finding somewhere else and having to declare you have a dog at the start, which could even be more difficult.

and having a potentially adverse reference from the LL.

missrlr

Ask, the LL
You are making 2 material changes to the agreement:
1. moving another person in who (presumably) is not listed on the tenancy
2. introduction of a pet.

I have decided to permit pets and have asked for cleaning of the carpets professionally with flea treatment on vacation with receipts to prove it plus a pet specific damage deposit to be added to the house deposit. This was as the tenant was good.

I have also been a tenant and asked to move a dog in, again same rules applied.

Write to LL c/o agent if necessary and you cannot get the LL details directly ask the specific questions, it may be the agent decides that the situation requires a new contract and so can shaft you both for some fees so may ask the questions on that basis. Not that you need a new agreement but hey ... you can seethe money making opportunity for yourself.

Matthew402007

Thanks so much everyone.

First thing I will do is right a letter to my landlord, I really dont want to annoy the landlord as I love this home, shall I say in the letter that we are thinking of taking in a Chihuahua and even inviting the landlord over to meet him?

Should we put a picture of him on the letter? (or is that ridiculous?)

We can state in the letter that we would like to up our deposit, and we will pay for the floors to be flea cleaned when we leave and we will pay for any damages etc, and that he is house trained, and tiny.

We still have 11 months on this tenancy left, as its a new home.

Hes short haired, he leaves no hair, not even on my clothes, I guess that could be another selling point lol

Jangin

Good move! Do please walk your puppy as much as you can as it stimulates them mentally and physically

Notmyrealname

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And blanket bans on keeping pets are likely to be an unfair contract term and unenforceable.

They're not.

Werdnal

Notmyrealname wrote: »

They're not.

OFT seems to think so!

LittleMissAspie

Matthew402007 wrote: »

Thanks so much everyone.

First thing I will do is right a letter to my landlord, I really dont want to annoy the landlord as I love this home, shall I say in the letter that we are thinking of taking in a Chihuahua and even inviting the landlord over to meet him?

Should we put a picture of him on the letter? (or is that ridiculous?)

We can state in the letter that we would like to up our deposit, and we will pay for the floors to be flea cleaned when we leave and we will pay for any damages etc, and that he is house trained, and tiny.

We still have 11 months on this tenancy left, as its a new home.

Hes short haired, he leaves no hair, not even on my clothes, I guess that could be another selling point lol

A letter inviting the landlord to meet the dog sounds good. I wouldn't include a photo. I also wouldn't offer to increase your deposit, but do offer to have the house professionally cleaned and flea treated at the end of the tenancy (pointing out that you will treat the dog for fleas etc on a regular basis but you are happy to have the house treated for the landlord's piece of mind). Say he is small and well-trained, and should he accidentally cause any damage you will pay for repairs. Good luck!