Pets in temporary accommodation

Fastlane

So trying to cut a long story out I am in temporary accommodation with my mum and 2 sisters. We’ve been here 2 weeks today and it’s a 2 bed ground floor massionette with its own back garden.

The process involved us getting evicted from our house (the whole time the council knew what was going on) and only a week before our eviction date they told us no pets would be aloud in temporary accommodation. We thought they wouldn’t allow pets because we would only be in 1 room.

Luckily my aunt offered to have our dog and my dad could take our cat (both temporarily). It’s gotten to the point where my anxiety has gotten worse due to the fact that I can’t have my dog with us. I’m 18 and struggling with mental health (under the doctors and on medication). The council have a letter from my doctor explaining all of this.

When we first moved in my mum asked the letting agent this flat is under if our dog would be ok to come with us and they said as long as the council has said it’s fine, yes. My mum then proceeded to ring the council and the man that helped her then told her no, no animals are to be at the property, if there are any there we could be kicked out.

Another thing is both of our neighbours have told us that the lady who stayed her before us had 3 dogs. The flat is hardly new and just about meets basic needs (not complaining) and has rats.

I really don’t understand where the council are coming from since the letting agent had already said it’s fine. Should i get my mum to ask them again but stating it’s affecting mine and my sisters mental health more? Is there anything we could do?

She’s an 8 year old dog who we’ve had for 8 years and it’s so hard not having her live with us.

boo_star

It seems to me that the council are renting the property from a private landlord and are then in effect subletting it to you. As such it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to refuse permission for you to do certain things that the landlord may otherwise allow.

That being said I would assume that if you have a mental health condition diagnosed by a doctor and their advice is to allow you to keep the dog that they should be doing this.

Perhaps approach it as breach of the Equality Act and point out their need to make "reasonable adjustments"?

kelpie35

Could you not go and stay with your aunt?

Is there anyway you could visit your dog for a few hours per day?

Kentish_Dave

If I agreed to rent a property out and the tenants agreed a no let’s rule I would not be at all amused if they then started trying to play at my heart strings to change the agreement once they had moved in. I’d probably regret renting to them and start to plan how best to get them to move on.

As others have said, either stay with your aunt, or just visit and take the dog out for a few hours each day.

Davesnave

Who picks up the tab if the dog, ferret, alligator etc does damage during your tenancy? Have the council guaranteed a sum by way of deposit to cover accidental damage?


I suspect this is why the agency wants the council's agreement, probably in writing, before they will allow a pet.

Fire_Fox

Welcome to MSE.

Sorry to read that you are struggling with your mental wellbeing.

It is the norm for rules to be stricter with emergency or temporary accommodation. Check your council's website or any paperwork you gave been given to see what their policy is on pets in temporary accommodation. You do not know the circumstances surrounding the previous let so this is not relevant.

If your family does not find suitable longer term accommodation for yourselves, the council should eventually offer you somewhere more permanent. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that this will be suitable for pets either. The council's priority will be to find you a property where you are not overcrowded (at least three bedrooms).

The quickest way to get your pets back home with your family may well be to find a suitable private let.

FreeBear

Fire_Fox wrote: »

The quickest way to get your pets back home with your family may well be to find a suitable private let.

Unfortunately, private landlords that will allow pets are few and far between and the rents will be considerably higher than social housing. As the OP is one of three living in a two bed property, the council should be treating the family as a high priority case.

fairy_lights

FreeBear wrote: »

As the OP is one of three living in a two bed property, the council should be treating the family as a high priority case.

Why? Two people per bedroom doesn't seem unreasonable?

FreeBear

fairy_lights wrote: »

Why? Two people per bedroom doesn't seem unreasonable?

If they are a couple, I would agree, but this is a mother and two daughters, and the OP who is 18yo.

Fire_Fox

FreeBear wrote: »

Unfortunately, private landlords that will allow pets are few and far between and the rents will be considerably higher than social housing. As the OP is one of three living in a two bed property, the council should be treating the family as a high priority case.

In many areas yes, but by no means everywhere. Plenty of landlords up here accept tenants with pets and accept (even expect) tenants on benefits.

Seems to me more productive to search far and wide for a suitable private let than to expect the council to go against policy. If the council come up trumps with a pet-friendly property in the mean time, great.

fairy_lights wrote: »

Why? Two people per bedroom doesn't seem unreasonable?

Two of the four are adults (OP and their mother) so eligible for a bedroom each. The OP's sisters might be expected to share, depending on their ages.

Cakeguts

What the lady had in the way of animals before you doesn't make any difference as to how many animals you are allowed.



Regarding the mental health aspect. You need to get better treatment for this. If what you are doing at the moment isn't working very well you need to go to your doctor and get better treatment. You wouldn't just put up with a broken leg?



I can see that an 8 year old dog might help in the short term but in the long term it probably won't so you need to do something about it now.