Looking to rent but have 2 cats, help!

cloo

I don't think it makes much difference if one or two cats. When husband and I rented with cats we didn't mention it until last minute, when they agreed in return for an extra bit of deposit.

I'm not *quite* sure why LLs tend to default to 'no pets' these days... well, obviously it's a risk factor for damage, although if you're unfurnished and especially have wood floors etc there's not an awful lot anything smaller than a medium dog could do, you'd have thought. But I think gradually things might move, as corporate owners start providing rented units, to rented places being more of a service than a 'count yourself lucky I'm letting you live here until I need the cash value of the place', and being a service means welcoming tenants with pets.

Icecannon

I'm_not_going_into wrote: »

So let me get this right, you have replied to my comment and said you didn't mean to 'frighten or annoy' me but your offended about my comment regarding an elderly person? Why would is there even a difference? A cat is a living being as well as a human. I can guarantee if euthanasia was available for humans I'd be all for it. My grandad was a professional ball room dancer who played golf everyday. He died from MND! There was nothing wrong with his mind but his body let him down and failed so he suffered a horrible death!!

Why out of interest didn't you bill your tenant with the £1600?

To be fair I think the point being made was that just because a pet isn't making a mess now, things can change, from a rental point of few.

I don't think anyone was suggesting to have a pet put down if it messed on a carpet but just pointing out why some LL have a blanket no pet rule, as things can change.

Murphybear

Interesting observation

I have looked at literally hundreds of properties to rent on Rightmove since November. I have noticed that some of them are still available after many months. After a chat with some of the agents it would appear that the "no pets" rule is often to blame. I calculated that the loss of rent to one landlord was in the region of £4000, probably far more than any damage done by pets. :eek:

Bear in mind the following - I live in rural Devon where the market is very different from big cities and the South East. The properties haven't been overpriced but houses located at the back of beyond can be hard to let.

Davesnave

Murphybear wrote: »

Bear in mind the following - I live in rural Devon where the market is very different from big cities and the South East. The properties haven't been overpriced but houses located at the back of beyond can be hard to let.

We live in rural Devon too, but some years ago we found ourselves needing to rent for a while in Bath....and we had 2 cats + 2 ferrets.

It took us only 24hrs to find 3 places we might rent. The key to this was a willingness to visit all the agencies in person and provide 6 months money up-front + whatever they wanted extra in the way of deposit. For obvious reasons, we didn't expect the best of the property on offer, but nor were the houses we had a choice of complete dumps.

All the agencies had 'No pets' clauses in the adverts and all said much the same thing; that it was 'flexible,' depending on the potential renter, whom they preferred to meet first ....but I think the 'flexible' money up-front helped a lot too.

It's like any other kind of insurance: the higher the risk the more one has to pay.

FBaby

I calculated that the loss of rent to one landlord was in the region of £4000, probably far more than any damage done by pets.

You have no idea why the place wasn't rented. Any LL who would rather lose £4,000 then rent with cats must have a very good reason. Maybe the place is a total mess, overpriced and even those with cats wouldn't be interested anyway!

As it's reminded here over and over, being a LL is running a business. To run a successful business, you assess your potential income against the risks. If you can maximise your income reducing the risks to the maximum, of course that's the choice you make. If however, your income is limited because of the bar you set in terms of risk, you have to reassess your position.

The reason why you are struggling to find a property is because you are visiting properties that attracts demand which means that the LL can be picky and go for the perceived least risky business.

Looking at properties that might have been listed for a few weeks is definitely the best strategy.

meg00

Cloo,

"There's not an awful lot anything smaller than a medium dog could do, you'd have thought."

Tenant had cat beds propped against 3 doors. Cat pee had soaked into carpets, underlay and the solid floor underneath, then soaked into the bottom of the solid wood doors rotting them.
Carpets, underlay and doors needed to be replaced, floor professionally cleaned and fumigated, plus various other areas that cats had peed/pooed/vomited on. Double glazed patio doors covered in scratches because, as we know cats are always on the wrong side of the door.
Tenant was a nice university educated person who loved her pets, which she had owned for over 10 years.Tenant also appeared to be nose blind. The smell practically knocked you off your feet when you walked into the house,
None of this could be claimed on insurance. Small pets can do massive damage.

cloo

OK, fair dos, though that does sound like an pretty extreme case!

I'm_not_going_into

meg00 wrote: »

Cloo,

"There's not an awful lot anything smaller than a medium dog could do, you'd have thought."

Tenant had cat beds propped against 3 doors. Cat pee had soaked into carpets, underlay and the solid floor underneath, then soaked into the bottom of the solid wood doors rotting them.
Carpets, underlay and doors needed to be replaced, floor professionally cleaned and fumigated, plus various other areas that cats had peed/pooed/vomited on. Double glazed patio doors covered in scratches because, as we know cats are always on the wrong side of the door.
Tenant was a nice university educated person who loved her pets, which she had owned for over 10 years.Tenant also appeared to be nose blind. The smell practically knocked you off your feet when you walked into the house,
None of this could be claimed on insurance. Small pets can do massive damage.

You do really make me laugh :rotfl:
Jeez how BIG were these cats to soak through all of the 'above' not even dogs pee that much to do that much damage! Glazed patio doors yes? I think everybody knows that it takes some 'doing' to scratch glass. I'd personally contact your local zoo if I were you because it sounds very suspect that the tenant may have had an escaped lion/tiger in your property. I also think the above proves just how well behaved our cats are as there is zero damage to doors etc. We even have a very pale cream carpet throughout which we've had for about 2 years and is still in pristine condition.

I count myself incredibly lucky that we own our property and do not have yourself as our LL as I'd be concerned breach of tenancy may be committed by you just walking in whenever you felt like it.

I'd also like to refer to your reply to me from yesterday. How in gods name is an animal ANY different to a human being? Every single living being on this planet breaths the same air as us. Just because animals do not have voices doesn't mean they should be treated in any different way. I actually prefer animals to humans as they don't care if your rich/poor/well to do/lower-middle-upper class. As long as you love them and care for them and treat them with respect they give it back!

meg00

I'm not going into it.

Jeez how BIG were these cats to soak through all of the 'above' not even dogs pee that much to do that much damage!
Cats normal size. But allowed to pee over many months. If you want to have proof of cummalitive urine damage stop cleaning their litter trays for a while. Damage agreed to by tenant.

I'd personally contact your local zoo if I were you because it sounds very suspect that the tenant may have had an escaped lion/tiger in your propert.
Cats have sharp claws. Lions/Tigers claws are bigger. All are capable of scratching glass.

I also think the above proves just how well behaved our cats are as there is zero damage to doors etc. We even have a very pale cream carpet throughout which we've had for about 2 years and is still in pristine condition.
I'm delighted for you.
Read my original mail. Cats became old and doubly incontinent. The damage was (mostly) caused by urine soaking over a long period of time. If there is such a thing as cat nappies, the tenant chose not to use them. Damage agreed to by tenant.

I count myself incredibly lucky that we own our property and do not have yourself as our LL.
Me too.

I'd be concerned breach of tenancy may be committed by you just walking in whenever you felt like it.
Where in my post does it suggest that I just walked in?

I'd also like to refer to your reply to me from yesterday. How in gods name is an animal ANY different to a human being?
Beacause they cannot talk, cannot feed or care for themselves in a domestic environment, cannot source healthcare or hygeine solutions. Domestic pets rely on their ownwers to provide and take care of their social, health, physical and dietry needs.

Every single living being on this planet breaths the same air as us. Just because animals do not have voices doesn't mean they should be treated in any different way.
Any different way to what?

I actually prefer animals to humans as they don't care if your rich/poor/well to do/lower-middle-upper class. As long as you love them and care for them and treat them with respect they give it back.
Then you have answered you're own question.
"Just because animals do not have voices doesn't mean they should be treated in any different way".

The OP was asking for advice about why landlords are reluctant to accept pets. My reply was to illustrate the problems that landlords can and do encounter with pets. This is not the only time I have had to deal with damage from pets, but is the most expensive one.
The tenant had the cats for many many years. (fourteen I think). They were very much part of her life, she loved them very much and took care of them, which is why she could not bring herself to have them put down when they became incontinant.
I, as a cat lover, and landlord, sympathise with this. However I am not prepared to accept costs of £2000.00 for damages which are CONTRACTUALLY the tenants responsibility. As also stated, this cannot be claimed on insurance. Agreed to by tenant.

You may also consider changing your user name from "I am not going into it to" to "I am going to hammer this into the ground".

Kittylah,
If you are still reading, bear in mind many landlords have pets. If you can contact them directly you may be able to secure a tenancy by agreeing a more frequent inspection period so any potential problems caused by pets can be resolved sooner than later.
Even allowing for the problems illustrated above, I have just agreed a rental to a couple with 2 cats.................!
Good luck with your search.
Meg.

theone999

meg00 wrote: »

I'm not going into it.

My post was not intended to frighten or annoy.

The original poster was asking why landlords are reluctant to let to tenants with pets. My post was an explanation of why I don't allow pets (although practically there is nothing that can be done after the tenant has moved in).

How about an elderly person who is 'incontinent' would you put them to sleep if it was available?

I find that remark offensive.

I think as a BTL landlord, you'd put your own granny to sleep. In the eyes of many people, myself included landlords are just behind bankers, politicians and the corporate class. It's the average person getting a taste of what being a rentier is all about, as they suck their fellow citizens dry. A rentier is someone who contributes nothing productive to the economy in their act of taking a cut, usually for an essential good or service, in this case, housing.