Cats in flats

NeilCr

thatoldchestnut wrote: »

I should clarify that we will be either getting a ground floor flat that allows us to let the cat out if we need to, or otherwise we'll be getting a cat that has to stay indoors.

ChicaBonita wrote: »

We have two british short hairs in our 2 bed flat. Early on in the buying process we asked for permission from the management company for cats and we got it (the lease said yes to pets as long as you have permission)- we would have pulled out if it was a no tbh, as having pets was very important for us.

We have this clause and - as directors - are asked on occasions if prospective purchasers can have a pet (pets).

Most of us are animal lovers so we are inclined to say yes. But we do emphasise that, if the pet causes a nuisance we retain the right to ask for it to be removed. We have said no - once. Someone wanted two dogs and a cat in a small first floor flat with no access to the outside.

There is the issue about setting a precedent, too. Well they've got a small cat so we can have a "enter breed of large dog". Plus, to be honest what some owners see their pets as not being a nuisance can be viewed differently by neighbours.

hazyjo

I wouldn't bother asking the EA. They're not going to know, or they may lie.


I know it seems like a waste of everyone's time, but I'd be viewing anyway, then looking into the pet clause in the lease. It's just too much hassle the other way round. It would be the first thing my solicitor would check though!


I would rule out communal gardens. Private garden, or indoor cat. I read all the local ads from Cats Protection, and there are many cats advertised as 'indoor only'. I got one myself a couple of decades ago when I was in a flat. She was advertised as 9 years old and indoor only.

Fire_Fox

thatoldchestnut wrote: »

Hello

At the moment my partner and I are saving for a leasehold flat and we'd like a cat at some point. I know that some leases prohibit pets but that some allow them if they don't disturb other residents. Is one more common than the other? Also, is it possible to look at the lease of a particular property before you've agreed to view it, and are property management companies usually amenable to these requests? We don't want to waste anyone's (or our own) time by going to look at somewhere we're ultimately not going to be interested in.

IIRC blanket 'no pets' clauses are considered unfair terms and thus are not enforceable. BUT do consider that disturbance is not the only issue, a neighbour might have an allergy say.

You might well need formal consent of the freeholder to fit a cat flap (if relevant), and this could reasonably be refused.

A potential buyer has no legal relationship with the freeholder or their managing agent. Generally freeholders/ agents charge the outgoing leaseholder for all the legal work of transferring the lease, inc. supplying documents.

Check out the Leasehold Advisory Service website, and do choose a conveyancer that specialises in leasehold properties.

HTH!

Fire_Fox

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Maybe it's just me but isn't it cruel to cage a cat up in a few rooms for its whole life ?

In north America it is commonplace for domestic cats to be indoor only. This is due to the risks of an RTA or being killed by wild animals (eg. coyotes/ wolves/ panthers).

Back to the UK ... My last cat was indoor only as recommended by a veterinarian. Noah was found by a rescue living outdoors: in thick snow, lying in his own mess, skin and bone, severe pododermatitis (all four paws open wounds). After that he wanted nothing more than home comforts.

My present cat had a suspected RTA when very young which affected her mobility, and now has osteoarthritis so will have reduced mobility going forwards. She is also very nervous, and showed no inclination to go out at her foster home. If I get Lulu a companion cat, they will be FIV+ or otherwise indoor only as recommended by a veterinarian.

need_an_answer

you'll probably be quite a way down the process of buying before you actually establish what pet clauses there are against a leasehold.

I'm a LL/owner and have several leasehold flats which vary over their particular clauses.

Just to give you an example 2 flats I own can permit pets if the correct permissions are sought at a cost of £80 per flat.
1 flat allows pets with permission,no charge


and 2 other flats in different complexes are at the discretion of the directors and permission may be obtained however we were told when purchasing 1 of the flats that a charge was required and it "should" be ok....only to find that on purchase and payment of the charge the request was denied.


The problem that you may encounter is that the vendor could tell you "lots of people have pets" only for you to find out much much later that they shouldn't or don't actually have permission.


My genuine advice would be to try and find a freehold property you wont have the constraints of the lease and wont be forever worrying if a near neighbour will object to your pet.


You'll find that even if a lease permits pets the permission can be revoked if there are complaints about your pet.

Rosemary7391

need_an_answer wrote: »

you'll probably be quite a way down the process of buying before you actually establish what pet clauses there are against a leasehold.

I'm a LL/owner and have several leasehold flats which vary over their particular clauses.

Just to give you an example 2 flats I own can permit pets if the correct permissions are sought at a cost of £80 per flat.
1 flat allows pets with permission,no charge


and 2 other flats in different complexes are at the discretion of the directors and permission may be obtained however we were told when purchasing 1 of the flats that a charge was required and it "should" be ok....only to find that on purchase and payment of the charge the request was denied.


The problem that you may encounter is that the vendor could tell you "lots of people have pets" only for you to find out much much later that they shouldn't or don't actually have permission.


My genuine advice would be to try and find a freehold property you wont have the constraints of the lease and wont be forever worrying if a near neighbour will object to your pet.


You'll find that even if a lease permits pets the permission can be revoked if there are complaints about your pet.

I'd think the risk of this is quite low though with an indoor cat. I didn't even know my neighbour upstairs had a cat until they escaped and ran into my flat one day - I'd forgotten to close the door because I had the police over after a break in. Not exactly a common circumstance! (Although now I think of it, maybe that's why my neighbour seems to "drop" stuff frequently...)

need_an_answer

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I'd think the risk of this is quite low though with an indoor cat. I didn't even know my neighbour upstairs had a cat until they escaped and ran into my flat one day - I'd forgotten to close the door because I had the police over after a break in. Not exactly a common circumstance! (Although now I think of it, maybe that's why my neighbour seems to "drop" stuff frequently...)

but that's my point,through most of the post I made..."you think the risk is quite low"...but if the lease states the pet could be removed upon a challenge them the potential is there for it to happen.


most people couldn't give 2 hoots if a cat lives next door I agree but if you've got an allergy for example to cat hair and the need to take antihistamines becomes necessary then the chances that could change someones view on pets being kept.


I'm not against animals in leasehold premises,I have a set of tenants who own a dog in one,their dog is quite quiet however the same cant be said for every dog ...they do bark at times that if uncontrolled can become issues to some people.Its just a case of how far that person then chooses to escalate that.(a little bit like many of the threads you read here about noisy neighbours)...noise is always subjective and individuals tolerance of it can be different.


Gong back to the issue of cats,its also not uncommon to have to have communal areas subject to pest control if there are even "indoor cats",all costs that cant be passed on to the individual unless you know for sure who that is ,so need to be borne by all residents,and often a cost that someone maty object to quite rightly if its a no pet property.

hb2

We bought this flat 2 years ago and I asked about pets before even viewing. Most EAs seemed to be honest enough to either say 'No' or 'I don't know'. We found that modern, purpose built block were more likely to say 'no' than older or converted blocks.

We viewed this flat having being told that pets might be permitted. We put an offer in but the first thing we got our conveyancer to do was get hold of the relevant lease clause so that we could be sure. We then asked the vendors to get advance permission as this is what the lease said. We own share of freehold but checked with management company that we could put a cat-flap into outside wall (it is a ground floor flat!).

I do worry that permission could be revoked in future - I am no happier at the idea of rehoming my cats than rehoming myself! I do everything I can to ensure that my cats are not a nuisance but get upset when I see that other people have left outside doors open, in case Alfie wanders into to the communal hallways. I also worry about the people next door leaving their patio doors open in Summer and Alf wandering in but they have assured me that it hasn't happened (yet). These neighbours are hoping to move - and I am hoping that anyone else will be equally accepting.

Alf is a cat who would be unhappy if not allowed outside. He has known this all his life and is a prolific hunter. My other cat, Sky, has medical problems and is happy indoors. If/when Alf goes (and I hope this will not be for at least 10 years) I will consider another cat that has to stay indoors as that will reduce the risk of problems.

I think I am trying to say that it is possible to find somewhere that allows pets but that it is not ideal if permission can be revoked later!

Rosieandjim

I was always told that if the entrance to your flat was communal then no pets allowed. If you have your own front door leading from outside pets were allowed. Hope that makes sense.


I would definitely look at low level flats with my own front/back access and no communal hallways etc.

hb2

Rosieandjim wrote: »

I was always told that if the entrance to your flat was communal then no pets allowed. If you have your own front door leading from outside pets were allowed. Hope that makes sense.


I would definitely look at low level flats with my own front/back access and no communal hallways etc.

We have a communal entrance with permission for pets.