Mutual exchange, pets?

AnotherJoe

Anon2213123 wrote: »

Thanks all. Yeah I've sent a message to their HA but due to data protection and stuff I'm not sure they would be able to reveal those details if that tenant has been given permission. Which means I might only find out when it comes to signing the paperwork?

Thanks cakeguts. Certainly it's not a service dog (I've met the tenant and it's not a breed that could be a service dog). What about the deed of assignment though?

From what I've seen that's the last bit of paperwork to sign to make it official. It doesn't start a new tenancy agreement. I get given their original tenancy documents and they get mine.

I dont think you need to ask if the current tenant has permission. The original tenancy agreements may have nothing in it about dogs and permission (or not) may have been granted later and so not covered.

You need to know if you will be given permission. There may be special reasons why the current tenant got permission, or they may be mistaken or lying that they have permission.

Ozzuk

I wouldn't be signing any paperwork until I was sure I'd be allowed to keep a dog, for all you know the current tennant is moving due to that reason - perhaps other users of the garden are complaining for instance.

I am a bit nutty with my dogs though and they'd come first - I wouldn't rehome them for instance becuase I wanted a flat and they couldn't come (not saying you would either) so it would be my priority to ensure a home for them as well, and one not at risk of being removed at any time.

Anon2213123

Thanks AnotherJoe and Ozzuk.

I will rephrase my question to their HA (instead of asking if they have permission, but will I be given permission).

Yeah I wouldn't sign anything at all if officially I wasn't allowed to bring my dog there. I've had him 4 years now and would never just give him up for a property (especially as my current home, a house with garden means swapping to a flat would be like a "downgrade", which is for health reasons more than anything so my dog would have to be accepted as part of the package or it's no deal)

Anon2213123

I had a reply from their HA which gives me no real answer. They actually contradict themselves.

In the human typed bit of the email it says dogs aren't normally allowed in their flats but they will look at it on a case by case basis (I'm quite certain the evidence I could provide would swing things in my favour to having a dog there).

In the generic copy and paste of terms at the bottom of the email it says "If you live in a flat or maisonette that does not have direct access to a private garden, we would not grant permission for a cat or dog".

onwards&upwards

Anon2213123 wrote: »

I had a reply from their HA which gives me no real answer. They actually contradict themselves.

In the human typed bit of the email it says dogs aren't normally allowed in their flats but they will look at it on a case by case basis (I'm quite certain the evidence I could provide would swing things in my favour to having a dog there).

In the generic copy and paste of terms at the bottom of the email it says "If you live in a flat or maisonette that does not have direct access to a private garden, we would not grant permission for a cat or dog".

I would try one more email explicitly asking for permission to bring your dog if you exchange.

If you get a no, or a maybe, or a vague non-answer then this flat isn’t going to be the one you move to so keep looking.

Yalpsmol

I would be very cautious even if they say okay. What about in 10 years time when you're looking at getting a different dog (are you likely to still be there), and permission isnt granted?

I am also nutty about dogs and a flat is too high a risk of complaints being upheld of future dog-less-ness when you reseek permission.

ripplyuk

Maybe this H.A. is a bit like my council. Flats here have a blanket ‘no dogs’ policy on the tenancy agreements. In reality, they couldn’t care less how many dogs you have.

TBagpuss

Anon2213123 wrote: »

Thanks all. Yeah I've sent a message to their HA but due to data protection and stuff I'm not sure they would be able to reveal those details if that tenant has been given permission. Which means I might only find out when it comes to signing the paperwork?

Thanks cakeguts. Certainly it's not a service dog (I've met the tenant and it's not a breed that could be a service dog). What about the deed of assignment though?

From what I've seen that's the last bit of paperwork to sign to make it official. It doesn't start a new tenancy agreement. I get given their original tenancy documents and they get mine.

For example if they were granted permission to install a shower on the condition they remove it when they move out (or get charged for HA to remove it), they wouldn't have to remove it for the swap. I would take on the tenancy and removing the shower would fall on me when I left.

By all means if it was a brand new tenancy starting up then I'd be already looking elsewhere for a HA that does have a property that officially allows dogs.

You don't need to know whether the current tenant has permission. You need to know whether you would have permission.

So the question to ask would be about (1) whether permission is required for that specific property and (2) whether they can confirm that you would be granted permission.

They may well say that you would have to apply for permission once you moved in, which may mean that the flat is not appropriate for you as you can't be certain whether you would be granted permission.

t0rt0ise

The HA doesn't approve individual posts on the Homeswapper site so they have no idea what their tenant has said in their swap ad. I wouldn't risk moving to that flat. It may be that the HA won't worry about you having a dog until someone else complains and then they will enforce their rule.

LadyDee

It is quite common for housing associations and the like to allow a pet if you already own one, but you cannot replace it if/when it dies. So you might find they'll allow your current dog but you wouldn't be able to have another.