No pet policy

Marvel33

Hi everyone,

I'm in a really difficult situation and would be grateful for any advice or similar experiences.

I bought a flat on an estate and I’m not allowed to keep my wonderful 7-year-old male French Bulldog with me that I have had from a puppy.

Unfortunately, I only fully understood the lease terms regarding pets the day before signing and the estate has a strict 'no pets' policy.

(Specifically, the lease documents were received from the solicitors on 26/02/2025 at 12:52, for signing on 27/02/2025, leaving me less than 24 hours to review)

I've already contacted the management company directly, explaining my situation, but they've given a firm 'no' to any individual exceptions, stating it's to avoid confusion with their general policy.

What's making this particularly confusing for me is the estate's structure: I don't pay ground rent for my flat, and we're told there isn't a traditional 'landlord' – instead, every flat owner effectively owns a fair share of the estate.

Given this setup (no ground rent, shared ownership by flat owners, strict management company policy), does anyone have any suggestions or experience on potential avenues to explore for getting special permission to keep my dog? 

I'm open to any ideas, whether it's related to the ownership structure, legal precedents, or approaches to the management company or other residents that might be more effective.

It feels like a Catch-22, and I'm really keen to find a way to make this work for my pup and me.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

la531983

Just move in with the dog anyway? That not an option? Depends how noisy he is, and if your neighbour will "dob" you in.

DullGreyGuy

Marvel33 said:

Hi everyone,

I'm in a really difficult situation and would be grateful for any advice or similar experiences.

I bought a flat on an estate and I’m not allowed to keep my wonderful 7-year-old male French Bulldog with me that I have had from a puppy.

Unfortunately, I only fully understood the lease terms regarding pets the day before signing and the estate has a strict 'no pets' policy.

(Specifically, the lease documents were received from the solicitors on 26/02/2025 at 12:52, for signing on 27/02/2025, leaving me less than 24 hours to review)

I've already contacted the management company directly, explaining my situation, but they've given a firm 'no' to any individual exceptions, stating it's to avoid confusion with their general policy.

What's making this particularly confusing for me is the estate's structure: I don't pay ground rent for my flat, and we're told there isn't a traditional 'landlord' – instead, every flat owner effectively owns a fair share of the estate.

Given this setup (no ground rent, shared ownership by flat owners, strict management company policy), does anyone have any suggestions or experience on potential avenues to explore for getting special permission to keep my dog? 

I'm open to any ideas, whether it's related to the ownership structure, legal precedents, or approaches to the management company or other residents that might be more effective.

It feels like a Catch-22, and I'm really keen to find a way to make this work for my pup and me.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Sounds like you dont know what you have bought? 

You say you have a lease so it's leasehold and you arent in Scotland. Could be you are also a shareholder of the company that holds the freehold? That would be a common setup for a "share of freehold" but you really need to be checking to ensure that shares have been transferred etc. 

Similarly, do you know the history? Many cases the former leaseholders bought out the freeholder which can be as simple as the shareholders and directors of the freehold company changing. Leases therefore by default are what they were before unless there is a collective will to change them. 

Have you actually been on site much to see if there are pets? Our lease excludes pets but many of the occupants do have dogs and nothing is done about it. 

saajan_12

Marvel33 said:

Unfortunately, I only fully understood the lease terms regarding pets the day before signing and the estate has a strict 'no pets' policy.

(Specifically, the lease documents were received from the solicitors on 26/02/2025 at 12:52, for signing on 27/02/2025, leaving me less than 24 hours to review)!

Well ideally you'd request and insist on seeing the lease, ie what you're actually buying earlier in the process, refusing to continue after some time of waiting. Even once finally received, if you weren't happy with it then you didn't have to sign.. that's the point of having checks before signing. 

Marvel33 said:

What's making this particularly confusing for me is the estate's structure: I don't pay ground rent for my flat, and we're told there isn't a traditional 'landlord' – instead, every flat owner effectively owns a fair share of the estate.

Given this setup (no ground rent, shared ownership by flat owners, strict management company policy), does anyone have any suggestions or experience on potential avenues to explore for getting special permission to keep my dog? 

!

Sounds like its a share of freehold. That means you have a lease from the landlord, but the landlord is actually a company which you have an x% share in. Its not the same as you owning your freehold in full, you're still subject to the views of the other shareholders (who also happen to be leaseholders). The company would have directors to make decisions, and should have a process to ensure this represents the views of the shareholders. 

So you could look into that and appeal to the directors of the company. If enough leaseholders agree then rules can be changed. 

Brie

If your pup was actually a service dog of some sort (hearing, guide dog, emotional support even maybe) then I believe it would be discriminatory to not allow pup to be with you.  Also given the fact that landlords are less likely to ban pets from rentals I would have thought the same might apply when you own the property yourself.  

I can understand why a ban might be in place (noise, mess, possible attacks, even fleas) but don't consider it is reasonable myself.  

LightFlare

Some of the posts are bordering on giving the OP advice to deceive and/or lie

That could end up very badly indeed for the OP

The rule, whether it sounds reasonable or not is there. If one exception is made, where does it stop.

Clarity is definitely needed on some of the questions asked though

user1977

Brie said:

If your pup was actually a service dog of some sort (hearing, guide dog, emotional support even maybe) then I believe it would be discriminatory to not allow pup to be with you.

I presume it's not relevant here anyway given the OP doesn't suggest it's a service dog, but I don't think the Equality Act comes into play here - who is the party being discriminatory?

sheramber

Brie said:

If your pup was actually a service dog of some sort (hearing, guide dog, emotional support even maybe) then I believe it would be discriminatory to not allow pup to be with you.  Also given the fact that landlords are less likely to ban pets from rentals I would have thought the same might apply when you own the property yourself.  

I can understand why a ban might be in place (noise, mess, possible attacks, even fleas) but don't consider it is reasonable myself.  

Emotional support dogs have no legal recognition in UK and Equality Act does not apply to them.

RedFraggle

What does your lease say? Mine says "by permission but will not unreasonably be refused" but the Directors always say no initially, which they did, then they say yes on challenge. If your lease is an outright no it's harder.
I was granted a pet licence by the management company for my cat. Other people have dogs. 
A donation to the sink fund for the estate could also swing it. My vendor kindly chucked a grand in the pot to sweeten permission. 

Marvel33

1. No bird dog or other animal shall be kept by the Lessees upon any part of the demised premises without the Lessor's prior written consent

This is not number 1. Rule of the lease it’s  number 4 however this is what it says 

I asked for consent and the company emailed back saying 

Thank you for your message and for providing detailed information about your dog. We understand how important he is to you and appreciate your thoughtful approach.

However, I am afraid we are unable to give permission to keep a dog on the premises. The Management Company for ******** operates a no-dog policy, and as managing agents, we are required to enforce these rules consistently across all units and cannot grant individual exceptions, even in well-intentioned cases such as yours.

I am sorry that this is not the answer you wanted to hear.

 

gwynlas

Have you checked whether any other owners have dogs?

It would be quite obvious at certain times of day if they take them out for walks, you could tthen approach them and ask if rule enforced.

I can quite understand a blanket ban as some irresponsible owners might leave pets who bark all day etc. This might seem to punish those responsible owners who would not dream of doing so.

Would it be possible for your dog to board with a friend or family member until you find alternative accommodation?