Getting a puppy - What kind of compensation would be best to give to a landlord

UnitedSum

Yes, I only mention the bit about the tenancy fixed term because I work at an animal shelter and see all the dogs/cats being surrendered because people are in financial difficulties and forced to sell and subsequently rent without finding accommodation where pets are allowed. And it's doubly frustrating to hear of lovely people like yourself who would like to rehome these dogs/cats but are told unequivocally by private landlords that they're not allowed. Some letting agencies won't even deal with you if you tell them you have a pet.

I've always had permission to have my dog, but I know what I'd do if I ever really had an issue finding a place.

Glad to hear you're looking for a rescue pup! :-)

G_M

pb43 wrote: »

I am currently studying an animal degree at university and afterwards I am planning a career with dogs, therefore I am hoping my background and experience with dogs will provide a degree of reassurance for the landlord. I am not someone who is buying a puppy on the spur of the moment, I have researched, planned and prepared for this as it is really important to me.

Is there some kind of legal document aside for the lease contract I need to confirm any verbal agreement of having a puppy and the costs of repairs/deposit etc?

Your studies/career plans/ experience are totally irrelevant. Either the LL is happy with pets in the property, or not.

You/the LL can of course, draft/write and sign any document you both wish regarding pets, but it is more usual, and simpler, to include any agreement within the TA. After all, the TA has a number of clauses specifically designed to cover various eventualities. Pets are just one of those.

As I said in my earlier post, eviction during the fixed term is hard/virtually impossible, but breaching the TA and the LL's wishes means
a) he's unlikely to renew your tenancy and
b) your relationship will be dire - want repairs done? Don't expect the LL to jump! Want your deposit back? Expect a fight etc etc

aliasojo

We have a dog and really struggled to find somewhere that accepted pets. Every single time we approached an agent or a LL, we were asked how old the dog was. Puppies were an absolute no go.

Our present LL only accepted us because the dog was 4, we would have been refused if it was a puppy.

I wish you luck OP.

UnitedSum

One other piece of advice I'd give is to not mention the dog until you've met the agent and seen the property. A property I subsequently ended up renting was listed with more than one agent, and the first one told me over the phone when I first called that the landlord's policy is no pets. Period. I called the other agency it was listed with, didn't immediately mention the dog. I told the agency what my offer would be and at that time told them about the dog. My offer was initially turned down by the landlord as he wanted to wait for a better one. It never came, and I ended up with the property.

A perfect example of why keeping hush until negotiations can help you.

omnasia

I was happy to allow pets and told the letting agent. They ignored this (along with lots of other things) and the tenancy agreement states 'no pets'. If the tenant asked me directly, I would allow it. It will necessarily involve more cleaning/possibly more damage but a slightly larger deposit would be fine with me.

Notmyrealname

pb43 wrote: »

I am currently studying an animal degree at university and afterwards I am planning a career with dogs, therefore I am hoping my background and experience with dogs will provide a degree of reassurance for the landlord.

BWAHAHA.

My parents have been dog breeders, groomers and shown dogs at Crufts for three and a half decades. Their dogs wreck every house they've ever had.

An animal degree doesn't mean you'll have a dog which won't wreck a house.

Werdnal

Notmyrealname wrote: »

BWAHAHA.

My parents have been dog breeders, groomers and shown dogs at Crufts for three and a half decades. Their dogs wreck every house they've ever had.

An animal degree doesn't mean you'll have a dog which won't wreck a house.

TBH I have to agree with the above. Your qualifications and long term career aims do not change the fact that in the LL's eyes you are planning to share their property with a piddling, pooing, chewing, whining, barking, carpet and furniture ruining mut, and you will also be studying and probably leaving it alone in the property to boot.

Your LL will either accept the pet or not, and if its a "not" no amount of assurances will likely change their minds!

I am not anti-dog by any means, but can see why a LL would prefer not to allow pets in their property. Havign said that though, agents often have a standard "no pets" clause in their adverts, but if you can get to speak to the actual LL you might be lucky. A member of my family had major problems renting with her 3 tiny Yorkies, and she eventually spoke direct with a LL who agreed to take her and the dogs, so always worth a try if the agent will give you the LLs details.

Plus when you are renting, there is always the insecurity of the LL circumstances changing and you having to move on ... and having to face the merry-go-round of finding yet another LL who will take the dog! You are looking at a puppy, which could live perhaps around 14 years, with a minimum tenancy of 6 months, so you could face having to move up to 28 times during that dog's lifetime - upsetting for the dog and stressful for you. You may be lucky enough to find a LL who will take the dog now, but what about next year, the year after ...?

casualwalks

This is just my perspective, but I would say wait until you own or have a secure tenancy (HA or council). I rented with a dog for years, and it was a constant stress. I would never give her away, so it meant compromising (a lot) and spending a lot on repairs. Everytime I had to move I dreaded trying to find a place. I got her when I thought I had a very long term renting arrangement, but guess what, the situation changed and I had to leave. I own now and it is such a relief.

Many of the rescue centers near me won't rehome an animal unless it is to a home owner because renters were often asking for rescue centers to take in their pets when they couldn't find suitable accommodation.

All the best to you, whatever you decide.

DiscoCat54

It is also worth bearing in mind that a large number of rescue centres ask to see LL consent before allowing you to rehome one of their dogs.

dgtazzman

We have a cat in our rental, although it was originally agreed as a 'no pets allowed' tenancy. We just asked for permission from the landlord via the letting agency and made it clear his decision would be respected.

My now wife is home alone for long periods of time when I'm away from work and we felt a pet might help, which it has.

He agreed that we could have a cat if we agreed to pay for any damages caused by the cat and have the carpets deep cleaned at the end of the tenancy. Had this put in an email by the LA so I would have proof to fall back on, but we have since renewed the tenancy without issue. We're up for a new term soon, not expecting any problems though, after 2 years the landlord knows we pay our bills on time and we don't kick up a fuss over anything. Only had to call once, when we first moved in, as the bath tub plumbing was leaking and caused a nice mark on the living room ceiling (which still hasn't been repainted after 2 years, though the LL said he would do it :P)

Might end up costing us to pay for new carpet in the living room. The bulk of the damage was done by a door rubbing the carpet and fraying it, but kitty just loves loose bits of frayed carpet ^^ It's only crappy builder's carpet from when the house was a newbuild 6 years ago though and a lot of the carpet throughout is starting to look worn, so might get some sympathy, not that we intend to move soon. We do have contents insurance though, so might also be worth taking out some and using that to improve your bargaining position as that would cover any major damage if the right insurance is taken out and gives the landlord some extra security.

Good luck.

P.S. Our cat was a rescue from the RSPCA and they did check we had consent from the landlord.