Shared ownership purchase and dogs

Teacholic

Hi. I’m considering shared ownership flat in the future in London. I have medium-large dog. Anyone knows how easy it is to buy flat with a dog? Are there usual extra fees involved for pets? Kind regards, T

elsien

 I would imagine it rather depends on who the shared ownership people are? 

Teacholic

elsien said:

 I would imagine it rather depends on who the shared ownership people are? 

Are you able to tell more? 

elsien

Not really. What I’m saying is that different shared ownership schemes may have different rules so you would need to check individually with which ever ones you are considering.

kieran3184

It's not so much about shared ownership as in what your lease states regarding pets. I live in a shared ownership flat on quite a large estate and my lease states no pets unless approved.  I had a cat years ago, when I first got her I had to apply for a "pet licence" of £50.00 just to keep her, i.e. ripped off £50.00 because the management company can just invent these charges so be wary of these practices by agents.  My upstairs neighbour has two dogs, my next door nighbour has a dog, in fact loads of people round here have dogs, so perfectly doable if the lease allows or exceptions made.  You just need to be aware that if your dog becomes a nuisance, eg barking all day then the management company can insist on the removal of the dog or you can be in breach of your lease if you don't comply, which potentially could mean you lose your home.  Whether or not they carry through with the expense of that threat I don't know. This applies to all leaseholders on my estate, which is mostly private sales, so shared ownerships are not a separate group treated differently.

eddddy

In general, there are 2 types of leases.

1. Leases that say no pets
2. Leases that say no pets without consent (which cannot be unreasonably refused)

But 'type 2' leases generally also say that if the pet causes annoyance to other leaseholders, consent will be withdrawn.

So if other leaseholders accuse your dog of being noisy, making a mess, jumping up at people, or being smelly etc, consent can be revoked, and the pet would have to go.

Teacholic

kieran3184 said:

It's not so much about shared ownership as in what your lease states regarding pets. I live in a shared ownership flat on quite a large estate and my lease states no pets unless approved.  I had a cat years ago, when I first got her I had to apply for a "pet licence" of £50.00 just to keep her, i.e. ripped off £50.00 because the management company can just invent these charges so be wary of these practices by agents.  My upstairs neighbour has two dogs, my next door nighbour has a dog, in fact loads of people round here have dogs, so perfectly doable if the lease allows or exceptions made.  You just need to be aware that if your dog becomes a nuisance, eg barking all day then the management company can insist on the removal of the dog or you can be in breach of your lease if you don't comply, which potentially could mean you lose your home.  Whether or not they carry through with the expense of that threat I don't know. This applies to all leaseholders on my estate, which is mostly private sales, so shared ownerships are not a separate group treated differently.

Was it just one off £50? 

Do you know how can I make sure that I agree
my dog can be kept in a flat before I finalise the sale? 

My dog is a shepherd and he can bark when post man puts letters through to our front door , most common reason. I usually put him away from the front door in a crate when I leave so he doesn’t bark when neighbours come
and go. I could try training him to bark less but I don’t think it’d work when I’m not there, as a shepherd he’s alert. Neighbours never complained about him. I rent a flat currently.

Teacholic

I’m throwing back to the rest of people here: how can I guarantee that I can keep my dog before the sale is completed or at the time of sale completion. 

If it turns out that the do not give me the license for the dog, can I cancel the sale? Is there a ‘cooling period’?

@eddddy  
@elsien

theartfullodger

Teacholic said:

.... Anyone knows how easy it is to buy flat with a dog? ....T

Flats are rarely if ever supplied with a dog included...

People usually get their own dog (if permitted....)

user1977

Teacholic said:

I’m throwing back to the rest of people here: how can I guarantee that I can keep my dog before the sale is completed or at the time of sale completion. 

If it turns out that the do not give me the licence for the dog, can I cancel the sale? Is there a ‘cooling period’?

You read the lease. Or rather, your solicitor does. You're not bound into anything until you're satisfied with all of the due diligence you carry out.

sheramber

You need to check the lease before you agree to buy/ sign anything.

You should do that even if you do not have a pet, as you should know what the rules are for owning the flat.

Your solicitor should be advising you and answering any questions.