Pets and renting

Reue

macman wrote: »

With your attitude, it would presumably be fine for the tenant to gut the property and install a light manufacturing unit, as long as the damage was remedied at end of lease?

If in compliance with the planning and legal restrictions; yes. What difference would it make to the landlord?

macman

It might make a difference to the neighbours, for starters.
And because the normal deposit would not cover the cost of restitution if the tenant failed to comply at end of tenancy.
And because the buildings insurance would be invalidated by the change of use.

Reue

macman wrote: »

It might make a difference to the neighbours, for starters.
And because the normal deposit would not cover the cost of restitution if the tenant failed to comply at end of tenancy.
And because the buildings insurance would be invalidated by the change of use.

As I said; legal restrictions.

macman

So you'd be quite happy, as a landlord, for your tenants to sublet a property let for, say four people, and divide it into smaller units let to eight people? With or without pets? As long as they restore it upon departure?
A tenancy does bring 'legal restrictions' with it, and a common restriction is to prohibit pets, because of the damage or disturbance they can sometimes cause.

Reue

macman wrote: »

So you'd be quite happy, as a landlord, for your tenants to sublet a property let for, say four people, and divide it into smaller units let to eight people? With or without pets? As long as they restore it upon departure?

Absolutely.

ognum

As a LL I have no problem with a tenant keeping a pet, what I let is a home for them. I do have a couple of flats though that say no pets in the lease and therefore I have no choice but to pass this on to the tenants.

I recently had a new tenant with a cat and sadly he revoked his cat with a friend so he could get the flat. I really hate the idea of this but I have to go with what's in the lease.

So if you have a pet look at houses rather than flats, I am more than happy for people to have pets in my houses, interestingly though I have a family renting one of my properties with a cat and a dog. They moved for a job move and let their property, when I looked at their property on Rightmove it said 'no pets'!!!!!

TopQuark

EmmyLou30 wrote: »

I'm actually surprised so many tenants own pets tbh, why make life harder for yourself by limiting your choice as most rentals say no pets. Wait for luxuries like pets till you have your own home, save up the 'pet' money for your deposit instead.

What a strange, silly and presumptious thing to say. We have a cat and live in rented accomodation. He is not a 'luxury' he is a member of the family. We don't need to save up the 'pet money' for a deposit, because we own a house outright, but it's in a different country to where we live (France and we live in Switzerland). Should people who may never afford to buy, never be allowed pets? Is that only reserved for homeowners or those with mortgages?

I find attitudes like this to be part of the reason tenants often feel like second-class citizens in the crappy UK housing market.

ognum

TopQuark wrote: »

What a strange, silly and presumptious thing to say. We have a cat and live in rented accomodation. He is not a 'luxury' he is a member of the family. We don't need to save up the 'pet money' for a deposit, because we own a house outright, but it's in a different country to where we live (France and we live in Switzerland). Should people who may never afford to buy, never be allowed pets? Is that only reserved for homeowners or those with mortgages?

I find attitudes like this to be part of the reason tenants often feel like second-class citizens in the crappy UK housing market.

I am a LL and I totally agree, never presume the financial status of your tenants. I let to professionals in a city with very high pay rates in the science park sector, the majority of my tenants earn enough to own their own homes, some already do but have moved for a job and let their homes.

I have great tenants and feel fortunate to have them!

barbaraemmerson

I was a landlord when we had to relocate overseas with my husbands job. At enormous expense our cat came too - because he was a member of our family. We had a prospective tenant who had four cats but was prepared to put three of them in kennels - why? one cat or four - if you are responsible owners they should not be a problem. We took a punt and told him to bring them on condition the carpets were cleaned when he left - far cheaper than kennel fees!! The result as a landlord - an extremely happy tenant who looked after our home as though it was his own - no voids in renting - long time tenant - and the house was totally re-furbished when we came home anyway

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our experience - a happy tenant who appreciates you letting them bring their pets is a good tenant who treats your home with respect as if it were their own!

macman

Pets are a bit like tenants: 90% are good but maybe 10% are bad. LL's have to plan for the worst eventuality, and accordingly many will play safe and prohibit pets, unless they're going to lose income by doing so.