Renting with Pets - 'Pet Addendum'

FreakWhenSee

My partner and I will be taking residence of the flat in question on the 28th June.

We have paid admin + referencing, Deposit and first month's rent. We were told ahead of time that this was a pet friendly property (on Zoopla, their own website and confirmed verbally by the estate agent)

The estate agent has written to us asking for us to sign and agree to their 'Pet Addendum' which says that we must pay for professional cleaning (non-issue, happy to do this) but also fumigation (mandatory and therefore an issue)

This has kind of been lumped on us with no warning whatsoever.

What would you guys do? Any advice at all, much appreciated, thanks.

P.s. Contract states pets are not allowed without landlords consent, which we inquired about and which was given (and was a dealbreaker for properties for us) and the addendum is dated yesterday (28th May).

marlot

I guess it comes down to how much this would cost?

FreakWhenSee

Fumigation is quoted on individual basis as I understand it; all I managed to find was variations of between £75-£120 and they were all at least 6 years old.

ripplyuk

Fumigation! Makes it sound like you're bringing toxic waste into the house, not pets. I guess it's to cover those irresponsible owners who don't keep up with flea treatments but one fumigation wouldn't be likely to solve that anyway.

It would have been better if you were told about this at the outset, before paying any deposit etc and you could argue that, if you want to back out but it depends how much you want the house. Does it have to be a professional fumigation? You can buy home kits dirt cheap.

Southend1

Just spray some febreze before leaving?

FreakWhenSee

We are moving to an area where I doubt very much they will want us to back out (property has been vacant for like 3 months or something)

Sadly the addendum said PROFFESIONAL FUMIGATION in big condescending letters and everything. They also want receipts to the landlord.

I think this is kind of !!!!!!!! considering it's a logical absurdity that they have "confirmed permission" for our house-cat when they were aware it was a total dealbreaker.

Thanks for the info on home-kits, I might be willing to do that; but the fumigation thing is just a step too far.

Think I might have to have a little chat with the Lettings Negotiator and see how open to negotiation she really is!

Thanks a lot

jjlandlord

The tenancy is agreed and they gave consent for the pet (hopefully in writing), so you could just reply 'no, this is not part of the agreement'.

princeofpounds

Fumigation?!

Two cans of flea spray from a vets (the proper stuff with the egg inhibitor chemical) will sort out almost any flea infestation.

Have you and the LL or A signed the contract yet?

FreakWhenSee

We (The missus and I) have signed the rental contract (assured shorthold) and returned it in the post, the agent then sent through this addendum.

Other than that I don't think anyone else has put pen to paper other than the lettings negotiator when she signed this ridiculous add-on.

SerialRenter

As jjlandlord has pointed out, as you already have permission from the landlord and the tenancy has started as per the signed tenancy agreement, you are under no obligation to agree to any further stipulations.

However, do you have the landlords consent in writing?
The LL/LA also still issue a no fault S21 notice to seek possession once your fixed term has come to an end. But seeming you've only just started your tenancy, they'll probably have forgotten about it by the time the fixed term is coming to an end.

FreakWhenSee

Sadly we've never spoken directly to the landlord, much less had the permission in writing; it was the LA who communicated that this was a pets allowed property and Greenslade Taylor-Hunt were aware that this stipulation was foremost in our requirements of a property.

We're going to call up in a minute and request they change this agreement, saying we're happy to resign with S6 of the addendum rewritten, even happy to use flea treatments on the entire property as well.