Unauthorised Pet!

TBagpuss

I think the main ting is to ensure that the agents know there may be a cat, and to ensure that they are particularly careful when doing the check out inventory, so that if there is any damage, such as scratching, it is noted.

If there is a possibility of the tenancy being renewed then at renewal you can add in a clause about steam cleaning / professional cleaning, and can regularise the position.

Pixie5740

fozzeh wrote: »

TBH, I would have preferred them to have asked. They're generally good tenants, had 4 minor moans about the property (2 which were down to the weather and/or slamming doors, 1 when we said they couldn't paint something and 1 saying they didn't want a rent rise...). I would think honesty is the best policy.

If they had asked would you have said yes? If you had said no they might have just gone ahead and done it anyway.

I have a small pet (not a cat or dog) and when I was looking for somewhere to rent I was upfront about it and was told by several LLs that they wouldn't let to me because I had a pet. Fair enough.

In the end I just "forgot" to mention having a pet so I could find somewhere to live. I'm not saying it was necessarily the right thing to do but as far as I know the LA are none the wiser as during inspections my furry little friend stays at someone else's house and I don't need to worry about my LL having a nosey in the window as he lives in the Middle East

As long as my pet doesn't cause any damage to the property then no harm...no foul.

fozzeh

Lily-Rose wrote: »

Agree with this. ^^^ Now this is the kind of landlord to be.

Would being a good landlord keep the house off the market for longer than they could/should and turn someone away whilst her application was pending, agreed to 12 month contracts when we usually go for 6 months for the past 2 years...and also haven't raised her rent in 24 months when the rate is well below area average?

Defining good by asking a question is a bit blas! and presumptuous.

trailingspouse

Some odd replies on here.

Your question seems perfectly reasonable to me - the contract says no pets, but it looks like they probably have a pet, so what, if anything, can/should you do about it?

My concern would be if they're flouting this bit of the contract, might they also be flouting other bits?

But the big question is, what can you do about it? Could you mention it to the agent who does the inspections? Did they see any evidence of a cat (even if the cat isn't visible, there would likely be food bowls, litter tray, cat bed and so on)? After all, what's the point of an inspection if they don't spot things like this? One option might be to say to them that you understand they have a cat, and while you would have preferred them to ask first, you're not going to ask them to go/get rid of the cat - but instead you would like an additional amount to cover any damage caused by the cat. I don't know if this is even possible, but it might be a solution.

fozzeh

Pixie5740 wrote: »

If they had asked would you have said yes? If you had said no they might have just gone ahead and done it anyway.

I have a small pet (not a cat or dog) and when I was looking for somewhere to rent I was upfront about it and was told by several LLs that they wouldn't let to me because I had a pet. Fair enough.

In the end I just "forgot" to mention having a pet so I could find somewhere to live. I'm not saying it was necessarily the right thing to do but as far as I know the LA are none the wiser as during inspections my furry little friend stays at someone else's house and I don't need to worry about my LL having a nosey in the window as he lives in the Middle East

As long as my pet doesn't cause any damage to the property then no harm...no foul.

I don't know really. The yard has potential to be (literally) used as a dumping ground and the neighbour has upped sticks so the room for a huge mound to be placed is easy! If I was in the same position, I'd be honest up front. How long I could tether it before I forgot about my pets, I don't know.

And it wasn't a nosey

RuthnJasper

fozzeh wrote: »

I didn't mention that the curtains in the house were solid black lined and floor length over every light shedding place...

:eek:

?? Maybe one of the tenants gets light-sensitive migraines...

How do you know the curtains are floor length and "over every light shedding place" if you only happened to briefly walk past the place with your 5 yr-old?

Pixie5740

RuthnJasper wrote: »

?? Maybe one of the tenants gets light-sensitive migraines...

How do you know the curtains are floor length and "over every light shedding place" if you only happened to briefly walk past the place with your 5 yr-old?

I think the OP was joking.

Pixie5740

fozzeh wrote: »

I don't know really. The yard has potential to be (literally) used as a dumping ground and the neighbour has upped sticks so the room for a huge mound to be placed is easy! If I was in the same position, I'd be honest up front. How long I could tether it before I forgot about my pets, I don't know.

And it wasn't a nosey

I don't quite understand what you mean? Are you concerned that the backyard could potentially be used a dumping ground for cat poo?

If it's a house cat then there will be a litter tray inside unless your tenants are really manky or the cat has learned how to use the loo.

If it's an outdoor cat it will poo in everyone else's garden but the owners. It's one of the reasons I don't like cats. Except for big cats. I wonder if my LL will let me have a cheetah?

fozzeh

trailingspouse wrote: »

Some odd replies on here.

Your question seems perfectly reasonable to me - the contract says no pets, but it looks like they probably have a pet, so what, if anything, can/should you do about it?

My concern would be if they're flouting this bit of the contract, might they also be flouting other bits?

But the big question is, what can you do about it? Could you mention it to the agent who does the inspections? Did they see any evidence of a cat (even if the cat isn't visible, there would likely be food bowls, litter tray, cat bed and so on)? After all, what's the point of an inspection if they don't spot things like this? One option might be to say to them that you understand they have a cat, and while you would have preferred them to ask first, you're not going to ask them to go/get rid of the cat - but instead you would like an additional amount to cover any damage caused by the cat. I don't know if this is even possible, but it might be a solution.

I agree. Having to justify/explain what I was doing in the area is my favourite.

I drove there just to spy on the house...from outside...when no-one was in...without notice from the 'superior landlord' to do an inspection...that would sound about right by some of them!

Agree with the flouting bit. The last tenant was on a private AST (not doing that again!) and bugged about anything...but she asked when she had 2 massive boxers stay for 2 nights!

The LA are aware of the cat when they're to do the inspection within the next few weeks.

fozzeh

Pixie5740 wrote: »

I don't quite understand what you mean? Are you concerned that the backyard could potentially be used a dumping ground for cat poo?

If it's a house cat then there will be a litter tray inside unless your tenants are really manky or the cat has learned how to use the loo.

If it's an outdoor cat it will poo in everyone else's garden but the owners. It's one of the reasons I don't like cats. Except for big cats. I wonder if my LL will let me have a cheetah?

Yes, it has that potential (square paved area about 6ft long by the width of the house)...but it was a hypothetical answer to "Would we allow pets if they asked from outset?".

Plus, if you had a domesticated cheetah, you're welcome any time!