Allowing a small dog at my rental property?

_Penny_Dreadful

Newheight13 said:

Any advice on this one please? 

I have a potential tenant for a ground floor flat but he has a small dog. The the tenant is perfect but the dog is a worry. 

He is happy to pay a higher deposit but it’s just the dog will need to go out on the balcony to do his business which will be left open each day. Any experiences thoughts?

Leaseholder fine with it but I also don’t like the idea of a dog being left on his own all day but I’ve met the dog and he’s very quiet.

Thanks!

If you’re in England you can’t take a higher deposit, pet or not, you’re capped at 5 weeks worth of rent. 

I’d say no on the basis the dog is going to be left alone all day and will be pooing on the balcony. Neither the property nor the tenant’s lifestyle sounds conducive to having a dog. 

I do have tenants with dogs but only where the property is suitable for a dog e.g. the property has its own garden not shared with others and the tenant is around most of the time.  I made the mistake once of letting a flat to a tenant with a dog, turns out she was leaving it alone all day with no dog walker or anyone coming to see it. I found this out from a neighbour who approached the tenant and offered to walk the dog with hers at lunch time. If I close my eyes I can still smell and see the state of that flat. 

_Penny_Dreadful

sammyjammy said:

Does the dog do its business on a balcony now?  No dog I know would do that, won't even go on a pavement and will hold on tight until they get to grass.

Dogs who have been trained to go on grass will do that. I know a couple of dog owners who live in flats with balconies and the dogs have been trained to go on the balcony. 

Kim_13

Isn’t the law going to change so that LL’s can no longer refuse to allow pets? May as well start now with a tenant that is otherwise ideal.

_Penny_Dreadful

Kim_13 said:

Isn’t the law going to change so that LL’s can no longer refuse to allow pets? May as well start now with a tenant that is otherwise ideal.

No that is not the case. IF the Renters Reform Bill is passed not much will change with regards to pets. Landlords can’t have a blanket ban on pets just the same as they can’t now due to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 [unfair terms]. 

The Renters Reform Bill would mean landlords would have to consider pets on a case by case basis. Landlords can still say no and on the basis the dog will be left home alone all day and the property is not suitable I would think that even if the bill is passed the OP could easily still say no. The difference once the bill is passed that when the tenant and landlord are in disagreement the tenant has the option of making a complaint to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman. 

There is a shortage of rentals in most areas there will be a better tenant out there who doesn’t come with a dog. 

Grumpy_chap

Newheight13 said:

Any advice on this one please? 

I have a potential tenant for a ground floor flat but he has a small dog. The the tenant is perfect but the dog is a worry. 

I am not sure that you can write a tenancy agreement that permits a "small dog" - I think the agreement would have to be either "dog allowed" or "dog not allowed".  "Small dog" is really too ambiguous a term - when does a "small" dog become a "big" dog?

You also need the dog to be well-behaved and have manicured nails.  Friends of my Grandparents had a small dog, but it was a yappy little thing, always jumping up and scratching the inside of the front door...

Emmia

Grumpy_chap said:

Newheight13 said:

Any advice on this one please? 

I have a potential tenant for a ground floor flat but he has a small dog. The the tenant is perfect but the dog is a worry. 

I am not sure that you can write a tenancy agreement that permits a "small dog" - I think the agreement would have to be either "dog allowed" or "dog not allowed".  "Small dog" is really too ambiguous a term - when does a "small" dog become a "big" dog?

You also need the dog to be well-behaved and have manicured nails.  Friends of my Grandparents had a small dog, but it was a yappy little thing, always jumping up and scratching the inside of the front door...

I agree, lots of people I see walking small dogs, seem to do so at the same time as very large dogs 

Think tiny Yorkie and a St Bernard as an indication of a pairing.

35har1old

Newheight13 said:

Any advice on this one please? 

I have a potential tenant for a ground floor flat but he has a small dog. The the tenant is perfect but the dog is a worry. 

He is happy to pay a higher deposit but it’s just the dog will need to go out on the balcony to do his business which will be left open each day. Any experiences thoughts?

Leaseholder fine with it but I also don’t like the idea of a dog being left on his own all day but I’ve met the dog and he’s very quiet.

Thanks!

I would check out the new rules for taking a deposit I think you are only allowed 1 months rent as a deposit 

MobileSaver

Newheight13 said:

a ground floor flat ... the dog will need to go out on the balcony

Genuine question, how does a ground floor flat have a balcony? Is this a duplex with another duplex or flat above it?

youth_leader

I do hope you might allow it.  My friend has just phoned me to tell me her daughter's landlord is selling, and she has asked her Mum to have her 11 year old dog as she is so worried about finding a new rental.

Newheight13

Thank you for all of the above comments, all great points! (I mean freeholder) 

It has laminate throughout the whole property and tiled floors. Has a vibrating collar so when he barks he stops straight away. Advised he never scratch’s furniture but happy to pay a higher deposit and rent- this was offered and not asked for. 

Also in a trusted profession, if there is such a thing! 

The lease stated consent must requested for let’s and that’s all it states 

I think it will be ok, and I’m a huge dog lover. My concern is more for the dog  and neighbours really.