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Leaseholder with a pet

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Bluh123
Bluh123 Posts: 1 Newbie
in House buying, renting & selling
I requested permission from the freeholder over 2 years ago permission to get a dog. This was approved.


She is now making all sorts of threats to get rid of the dog as dog mess has been found in the garden. I am adamant the mess is not from my dog (fox and another dog have access to the garden) but I am getting the blame.


Does anyone know what rights I have? I have now been told I have to take my dog out in to the garden on a lead every time (I live in a ground floor flat with direct access to the garden). If I had known this would be a rule I would have never got a dog in the first place.


Many thanks
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  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    What is the exact wording in your lease regarding pets?

    What is the exact wording you received 2 years ago from the freeholder?
  • missile
    missile Posts: 11,689 Forumite
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    I have now been told I have to take my dog out in to the garden on a lead every time
    That would seem to be a very reasonable request by the freeholder. I would imagine she is responding to complaints from other residents?
    "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
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  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 19,131 Forumite
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    Is it a communal garden?

    What is your problem with keeping it on the lead?

    Keeping it on the lead ensures you are aware of when and where your dog goes and pick it up.

    Presumably you take your dog out for walks so instead of letting it out into the garden take it out at regular times during day to allow it to toilet then you cannot be blamed for any mess in the garden.
  • Red-Squirrel_2
    Red-Squirrel_2 Posts: 4,341 Forumite
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    You can get a long lead or an extending one so that your dog can still potter about the garden and have a bit of freedom, but I think if its a communal garden it is actually fair enough.

    I would also pick up any and all dog mess that you find in the garden, even if it isn't from your dog its in your interest not to upset the other people who use the communal garden. You don't want them to think of the dogs in the building as just a nuisance.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    There may be no mess.

    It might be that some other residents don't like sharing a garden with unrestrained dogs, have complained, and the freeholder has invented mess as the reason to bring in a restriction not originally thought-of.

    Either way, it's a reasonable one, ensuring that dogs aren't just turfed-out in the garden on their own, or that dogs with owners who need training, keep them under control whilst there.
  • anna42hmr
    anna42hmr Posts: 2,844 Forumite
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    I agree as a flat owner myself I would not be too happy with dogs off the lead in a communual garden. What you need to consider is that not everyone likes dogs and some are also afraid of them so allowing your dog off the lead can also result in fellow residents loosing their enjoyment of the garden. Also if it’s on the lead you can absolutely be sure it’s not your dog that’s responsible for the mess.
    MFW#105 - 2015 Overpaid £8095 / 2016 Overpaid £6983.24 / 2017 Overpaid £3583.12 / 2018 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2019 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2020 Overpaid £2583.12/ 2021 overpaid £1506.82 /2022 Overpaid £2975.28 / 2023 Overpaid £2677.30 / 2024 Target: £1800, £572.15 overpaid as at March so YTD = £355.88 Total OP since mortgage started in 2015 = £34,178.29
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,514 Forumite
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    I get not quite hours of fun but certainly many many minutes watching my neighbours chase their dog round the communal garden shouting 'come'. I don't think someone who was nervous of dogs would be quite so amused.

    I have contemplated getting another dog myself, but it would need to be trained to go in one place, and I certainly think that only letting it out when accompanied or on a lead would be entirely reasonable. its a question of respect for the neighbours. And yes, if the garden is communal then picking up after any dog is not unreasonable. If you can catch the other owner and dog in flagrante, all well and good but until you do, you are the dog ambassador for the building.
  • Carrot007
    Carrot007 Posts: 4,534 Forumite
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    Davesnave wrote: »
    There may be no mess.

    It might be that some other residents don't like sharing a garden with unrestrained dogs, have complained, and the freeholder has invented mess as the reason to bring in a restriction not originally thought-of.

    Or maybe the other resident is creating the mess themselves in protest as they don't like dogs?

    Still I cannot see why you would always want your dog on a lead like a responsible owner anyway.
  • aneary
    aneary Posts: 921 Forumite
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    Red-Squirrel wrote: »
    You can get a long lead or an extending one so that your dog can still potter about the garden and have a bit of freedom, but I think if its a communal garden it is actually fair enough.

    Those leads are actually extremely dangerous lots of people (including dog owners/walkers) want them banned.
  • Red-Squirrel_2
    Red-Squirrel_2 Posts: 4,341 Forumite
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    aneary wrote: »
    Those leads are actually extremely dangerous lots of people (including dog owners/walkers) want them banned.

    Extremely dangerous? Long leads? How? Perhaps if the owner isn't paying attention and lets the dog wander across the road or into the path of someone in a wheelchair or something, but loads of stuff can be dangerous in the hands of idiots.

    I can't imagine the danger of using them in your own garden is that severe!
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