Looking after landlords

1Missymoo

I have recently started renting a self-contained Annex which is attached to my landlord’s property. When I arrived at the property to take possession, I noticed that there were two cat flaps and a cat present in the property. I thought nothing of this at first as the landlords his mother-in-law had lived there prior to her death and assumed that the cat was once hers. However, when I questioned the landlord about closing the cat flaps and removing the cat, I was informed that I was now responsible for looking after it. There was no mention of this from the estate agents or from the landlord prior to me moving in. After speaking to the estate agents I get the impression that they do not want to get involved. What is making things more difficult is that my mother is also supposed to be moving in with me but unfortunately suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and is mow in hospital, and this situation will do her no good at all.

It took me a long time to find this rental, I have had to pay removal and storage costs for some of my mother’s furniture and I have also paid 6 mths in advance. With my mother due to leave hospital (fingers crossed) in the next few weeks I do not have the time or finances to find another property.

Would I be within my rights to ask the landlord to pay me to look after the cat and if he says no what steps could I take….help!

moneysavinghero

EA have their money now so they will not be interested in helping you.

Change the locks on the cat flap and make the cat aware that they have no legal right to enter your home without your permission.

You say that the cat will do your mother no good. How would getting paid to look after the cat help her?

[Deleted User]

get a handyman to remove the cat flap and stop the cat coming in.   Store the cat flap so you can replace it when you move out. Tell the landlord that you arent having the cat.   Legally a cat is classed as personal property so you cant just take a cat.  If the landlord doesnt want it then they can deal with it

frogglet

I dont think you should just lock the cat out and not feed it especially at this time of year. 
You need to go back to the landlord and come to some arrangement. If you don't mind looking after it on his behalf, Its not just food, it needs to be clear who is responsible for vet bills.
It may be that he has tried to rehome it with a rescue and not been successful and is giving his problem to you.
Please don't just lock it out and expect it to catch its dinner. 
Your mum might just enjoy having a cat for company,  stroking pets is known to be very relaxing.

Grumpy_chap

I assume the cat was not listed on the inventory when moving in or mentioned in the contract anywhere?  
In fact, typical tenancy contracts specifically prohibit keeping pets - that would be worth checking and may work in the OP's favour.

Whose cat is it?

1Missymoo said:

I questioned the landlord about closing the cat flaps and removing the cat, I was informed that I was now responsible for looking after it. 

This is either in jest, or the LL just does not care about the cat or what happens to it.  If the LL does not care about the cat, then the LL will not be likely to pay for the cat's upkeep in any way.

Looking after a cat that no one knows who it belongs to does not just become the tenant's responsibility.  Your choice is either to adopt the cat and all that entails, or block off the cat flaps and let someone else take the cat in.  Notify the LL you will not be responsible for the cat (via the Letting Agent).

moneysavinghero said:

EA have their money now so they will not be interested in helping you.

Often the Letting Agent receives a monthly fee, not just setting up the letting agreement.  It depends what level of service the LL has purchased.  If the Agent is on a full management or on-going rent collection service, then that gives the OP a bit of extra leverage as the Agent won't want to lose a tenant and have the remarketing costs again.

1Missymoo

frogglet said:

I dont think you should just lock the cat out and not feed it especially at this time of year. 
You need to go back to the landlord and come to some arrangement. If you don't mind looking after it on his behalf, Its not just food, it needs to be clear who is responsible for vet bills.
It may be that he has tried to rehome it with a rescue and not been successful and is giving his problem to you.
Please don't just lock it out and expect it to catch its dinner. 
Your mum might just enjoy having a cat for company,  stroking pets is known to be very relaxing.

Thank you for you reply. I have no intention of locking the cat out as it's not the cats fault. However I feel like I have been duped. I have spoken to my mother about maybe getting a cat and she really is not keen on the idea. If I had known in advance then I would not have taken the property but now have little choice. 

thegentleway

You can adopt it or add it to the 30,000 that get rescued every year...

1Missymoo

moneysavinghero said:

You say that the cat will do your mother no good. How would getting paid to look after the cat help her?

moneysavinghero said:

EA have their money now so they will not be interested in helping you.

Change the locks on the cat flap and make the cat aware that they have no legal right to enter your home without your permission.

You say that the cat will do your mother no good. How would getting paid to look after the cat help her?

There is no way that I would be able to find another property at such short notice so if we have to live there a reduction of the rent would make it easier to swallow 

greatcrested

You need to deal with this formally.

Write to the cat at the address provided, insisting that he/she provide you with 24 hours notice before using the cat flap.

If you suspect that the cat might ignore/abuse this, install a bolt on the flap, as well as a bell so that the cat can ring to gain admittance.

The cat should be required to re-imburse you for the cost of any food consumed, and in view of the current lockdown rules, the cat should not bring any aquaintances (field mice, robins etc) into your home.

Hasbeen

1Missymoo said:

I have recently started renting a self-contained Annex which is attached to my landlord’s property. When I arrived at the property to take possession, I noticed that there were two cat flaps and a cat present in the property. I thought nothing of this at first as the landlords his mother-in-law had lived there prior to her death and assumed that the cat was once hers. However, when I questioned the landlord about closing the cat flaps and removing the cat, I was informed that I was now responsible for looking after it. There was no mention of this from the estate agents or from the landlord prior to me moving in. After speaking to the estate agents I get the impression that they do not want to get involved. What is making things more difficult is that my mother is also supposed to be moving in with me but unfortunately suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and is mow in hospital, and this situation will do her no good at all.

It took me a long time to find this rental, I have had to pay removal and storage costs for some of my mother’s furniture and I have also paid 6 mths in advance. With my mother due to leave hospital (fingers crossed) in the next few weeks I do not have the time or finances to find another property.

Would I be within my rights to ask the landlord to pay me to look after the cat and if he says no what steps could I take….help!

I thought the thread was about looking after landlords?

Continental

Have you asked around the neighbourhood? My mother has made the mistake of giving treats to a cat and it’s always going round her house, even though it lives about 10 houses away. Cats are reknowned for having more than one home as they will go where they find food and comfort.

Maybe the LL’s deceased mother didn’t even own the cat but would just give it food and make a fuss of it? Does the cat have a collar with a name and phone no on it? Perhaps you could ask a local vet to scan the cat in case it has been chipped?

As a last resort, could you see if a the Cats Protection League may rehome it for you?