Renting with a small dog

jr1985

I really want to find a house that will allow me to bring my dog with me from my parents house. Having a pet is beneficial for me in terms of my disability and mental health.

I was wondering whether I should ask permission before hand (giving them the chance to say NO) OR just bring him, and if they say anything I can send him back to my parents?

So far I've been asking permission, and I've had "maybe" for a couple of not-so-nice houses and a definite no from another.

Are they able to evict you if you have a pet, or do they have to warn you first (i.e. get rid of it or get out)?

He is a small adult dog, so he won't be chewing on the furniture or anything, and I can leave him with my parents if I'm working a long shift.

[Deleted User]

Be upfront. You'll find a landlord who will allow it, you may have to pay an inflated deposit to cover it though. If you lie and then sign an agreement that states no pets, they'd be within their rights to evict you if they found out you had one. They'd have to give you notice, but they wouldn't necessarily give you the option of getting rid of him first if they feel you've lied to them, they could just give you notice to get out. Only you know if that's a risk you're willing to take.

cazmanian_minx

Dogs Trust has a great website about renting with pets, you might find some useful stuff on there: http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/index.php

jr1985

I've been ringing estate agents and asking if the landlords will allow pets but I wonder if it would be better to view the place first and ask in person while I'm there. Then they can see I'm not some yob wanting to keep pitbulls or something.

TBagpuss

If the landlords are doing viewings themselves then asking at the viewing may be helpful, as the landlord will be getting the question at a point where they have already met you and can form an impression of you generally, and also there may be some properties where the agents have a blanket 'no pets' policy but individual landlords don;t.

charliewocka

Be honest - yes, you will be restricted to the number of properties but there are people out there willing to let. I'm in private rented accommodation (till the 21st September anyways!) and I have two dogs (a Bassett Hound and a Basset x Spitz) AND a cat and I found somewhere. Paid 6 weeks deposit rather than a month but it's doable.

HappyMJ

jr1985 wrote: »

I really want to find a house that will allow me to bring my dog with me from my parents house. Having a pet is beneficial for me in terms of my disability and mental health.

I was wondering whether I should ask permission before hand (giving them the chance to say NO) OR just bring him, and if they say anything I can send him back to my parents?

So far I've been asking permission, and I've had "maybe" for a couple of not-so-nice houses and a definite no from another.

Are they able to evict you if you have a pet, or do they have to warn you first (i.e. get rid of it or get out)?

He is a small adult dog, so he won't be chewing on the furniture or anything, and I can leave him with my parents if I'm working a long shift.

Normally I'd say omit to mention the dog as it's so difficult to find a landlord willing to have a tenant with a dog but as you have home already and combined with the disability and mental health problems being given notice to leave may cause you a lot more headaches than trying to find a landlord willing to let you have a dog in the first place. A landlord doesn't have to warn you they can just give you notice.

I'd look for an unfurnished property though. A dog can't do a huge amount of damage to an unfurnished property. Offer a larger deposit to cover damage to carpet and offer to do a flea treatment to the carpet at the end of the tenancy.

You need to create something which you can show to letting agencies and landlords showing pictures of your dog in your current clean home and that will go some way to assure a letting agent and a landlord that you will care for the landlord's investment property. If you've also got a vet you regularly see a short letter from the vet saying the dog is worm and flea free and appears to be well looked after would be very helpful to you. I'd call it a reference.

Offer to allow the letting agent or landlord to inspect the property more often than they otherwise would and even offer them the chance to visit you and your dog in your current home.

You should be able to find somewhere. It will be difficult but as you have a home already it's not that urgent that you find a property at all costs.

ognum

Be aware that many flats have a covernent that stops the LL allowing pets so even if they want to let you have a pet they can't

jr1985

HappyMJ wrote: »

Normally I'd say omit to mention the dog as it's so difficult to find a landlord willing to have a tenant with a dog but as you have home already and combined with the disability and mental health problems being given notice to leave may cause you a lot more headaches than trying to find a landlord willing to let you have a dog in the first place. A landlord doesn't have to warn you they can just give you notice.

I'd look for an unfurnished property though. A dog can't do a huge amount of damage to an unfurnished property. Offer a larger deposit to cover damage to carpet and offer to do a flea treatment to the carpet at the end of the tenancy.

You need to create something which you can show to letting agencies and landlords showing pictures of your dog in your current clean home and that will go some way to assure a letting agent and a landlord that you will care for the landlord's investment property. If you've also got a vet you regularly see a short letter from the vet saying the dog is worm and flea free and appears to be well looked after would be very helpful to you. I'd call it a reference.

Offer to allow the letting agent or landlord to inspect the property more often than they otherwise would and even offer them the chance to visit you and your dog in your current home.

You should be able to find somewhere. It will be difficult but as you have a home already it's not that urgent that you find a property at all costs.

Thanks for your advice, that's really helpful!

I managed to find a landlord, who would be willing to allow me to bring my dog, as long as I keep him downstairs. The house was nice, though unfurnished (better for keeping a dog!). I'm just waiting to hear back from them because they had someone else also interested in the property.

BarryBlue

TBagpuss wrote: »

If the landlords are doing viewings themselves then asking at the viewing may be helpful, as the landlord will be getting the question at a point where they have already met you and can form an impression of you generally, and also there may be some properties where the agents have a blanket 'no pets' policy but individual landlords don;t.

Not necessarily the case. My agent happens to have a policy that all the properties they let are 'No pets, No smokers, No Housing Benefit' but regardless of that I would not let a property to anyone who had a pet. It also contravenes the lease in many places, as someone else pointed out. Many landlords refuse pets anyway as, even in an unfurnished property, there are issues regarding cleaning and damage to fixtures and fittings.

It is a mug's game lying to landlords or agents, as someone will always dob you in, especially if they would have liked a pet. If I, or my agent, discovered a cat or dog in a property I would have no hesitation in serving them notice as trust is broken as well as the terms of the let.

Innys1

BarryBlue wrote: »

Not necessarily the case. My agent happens to have a policy that all the properties they let are 'No pets, No smokers, No Housing Benefit' but regardless of that I would not let a property to anyone who had a pet. It also contravenes the lease in many places, as someone else pointed out. Many landlords refuse pets anyway as, even in an unfurnished property, there are issues regarding cleaning and damage to fixtures and fittings.

It is a mug's game lying to landlords or agents, as someone will always dob you in, especially if they would have liked a pet. If I, or my agent, discovered a cat or dog in a property I would have no hesitation in serving them notice as trust is broken as well as the terms of the let.

This is the key.

If I lose trust in any of my tenants, I will seek to evict them at the earliest possible opportunity. Having a pet is one thing - lying about wanting to have one is something else.