landlord and pets - unfair?

[andreaxo]

I rent and have been doing so for the past 7 months (the same house), when I moved in I was pregnant and had 2 rabbits, asked if rabbits could come too, landlord agreed.
I am a good tenant, try not to moan about things unless they become a big issue which so far has been 1 thing (the front door sticking) the landlord sends his son to do repairs as they don't live around here.
A week ago I decided I would like a kitten and did the right thing by asking the agent who then emailed the landlord to ask for permission, I got an email 3 days later saying 'unfortunately the landlord has declined your request, so a no to the cat im afraid' I feel really upset by this, I always Co operate and am more than happy to help them when they need to come round to inspect and ask me to sign things. I've even stained the woodwork in the living room which includes all skirting boards, fire surround and doors (with permission) whilst 8 months pregnant and have made the house look better. The radiator in my bedroom which is quite large does not work no matter how many times I bleed it and I've not complained as didn't want to make a fuss but now he's declined my cat and not even given me a reason I have complained as I have a newborn that sleeps with me and last night had to have 3 blankets on as it was so cold.
I just feel it's unfair he didn't give a reason, didn't offer me the option of paying a higher bond or a new term in the contract - I feel I'm a good tenant which is hard to come by as the house was up for rent months before I rented it as he could not find a tenant and was on the verge of selling the property.
I also rent unfurnished, the only thing that's in the property which belong to him are the carpets (one is out of a bedroom in the living room and blinds) the doors have seen better days and one has a huge crack in it and they have replaced 2 panels with plywood in one door which looked ridiculous until I've stained it and made it look less obvious.
I'm open to anyone's opinions on whether I am being unreasonable etc
Thanks

[Palomb]

It's his house, he can say what he likes.

[AliceAnneB]

Disappointing for you but honestly I would never let a tenant have a cat either. Cat wee is about the worst smell to try and get rid of. It can mean pulling up carpeting and even the flooring underneath. It's just too big of a risk.

[Racundra]

Perhaps if your kitten was confined to a hutch too, they would agree? Not practical though, is it? kittens/cats scratch walls, chew wires, etc, etc. and will cause far more damage/wear & tear than rabbits in a hutch would.

[gamerchick]

Suck up the kitten but bang in the repairs.

[andreaxo]

yes i understand you comments, I am quite OCD and my rabbits live in a large hutch at the top of the garden with a very large run and I am always up their cleaning them out etc My neighbour jokes about how spoilt they are, they used to be house rabbits at my previous address (which the landlord didnt ask about) but i thought i would move them into the garden as i didnt want to keep them in the house as I was unsure if he would allow this. Glad i did now otherwise I wouldnt have them either!
I did put a large deposit down on a Snowshoe kitten before the landlord declined as I thought he would say yes or at least add things to the contract or ask for a deposit/carpets cleaned when I leave which i would have happily agreed to and paid. Now my mum has the kitten and it breaks my heart every time i go round as I really wish he could live with me.
He is litter trained so wouldnt wee on the carpets, he has a vet appointment on monday to discuss neuturing and flea+worming treatments. I just think its unfair to not give me a reason, he has never met me, the agent has and he knows i keep the house very clean, pay rent on time, dont often complain.

[Artandco]

Well it's his house so his rules tbh

It doesn't seem a lot of queries and needing contact and stuff done in 7 months also. We have lived in our rented flat 8 1/2 years, in that time we email landlord once a year to renew contract, and we had new lights fitted 3 years ago in kitchen. Landlord has never been around.

[queenofthepirates]

so find a new landlord who will let you have a cat. TBH you're being a little petulant.

[andreaxo]

the agents do inspections on a 3monthly basis and ive emailed them twice about repairs, once about the front door sticking and not opening as i was scared the handle would come off eventually and about the radiator which with winter approaching i dont think is good with DD in the bedroom with me. Actually queenofthepirates that is what Ive been doing as I do feel rather petulant about the situation, unfortunately it would seem all LL refuse pets. disappointing

[Katarzyna79]

I think it is unfair because you pay rent and they should have a high deposit so any probs with cat peeing can be covered.

what gets my goat is painting decorating you need to ask permission before painting. I can understand wallpaper is harder to remove but paint? after any long term tenant it should berepainted anyway, which good landlords will do. becayse believe or not they even look for scuffs on walls anything minor to retain a deposit. we waited 6 months for reply on if we could paint my boys tired looking blue room to a neutral colour to make ut look bigger and brighter ridiculous

I also have probs with my radiators but to be fair they have been trying to resolve it no luck yet tho....

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

I can't put up a picture in my rented house. I can however have my cat. I don't know, yes a kitten could do some damage but have the option to pay a larger deposit. A child could do more damage.

[Rinceoir]

I'm going to go against the majority and say YANBU. It may be his house, but it is your home, and as long as you take responsibility for any repairs etc needed as a result of cat damage it should be your choice. I've been renting for over 10years, and am heartily sick of magnolia walls and being unable to decorate my own home, my DDs nursery etc.

[fiorentina]

We rent out a flat where the tenant bought a kitten without permission, it damaged carpets, floors etc with scratching as well as furniture. The cost of repair was far beyond the deposit amount. It may seem unfair but rhey aren't probably just being awkward for the sake of if. And don't feel bad reporting things that need fixing, we don't ever get annoyed about that if they are reasonable wear and tear?

[andreaxo]

6 months waiting for a reply is disgusting IMO I dont think LL understand that the house the rent to you is your home which you live in, so many people have pets and so many of those pets end up in rescues because LL wont allow them - Very sad
Yes if the option was given I would happily pay a larger deposit or even extra rent a month, just miffed the option wasnt given and neither was a reason - Just a point blank no
Yes a child could do more damage - Im so relieved they allow me to have my child live here

[gamerchick]

Why is it always magnolia? It's like you have to pay through the nose and put up with the punishment of the most boring, shit to keep clean coloured walls throughout for ever.

Knobs.

[andreaxo]

See I would never bring the kitten into my home without the LL permission, which i think says alot about your previous tenant fiorentina, that to me tells me they are not responsible pet owners or tenants.
I feel like I have done the 'right' thing by asking (as alot of people on this site say 'get a cat anyway' etc), in the original email I just asked for permission from the landlord for a cat I didnt offer a higher deposit, extra rent or for the carpets to be cleaned or repair any damage as I thought that would be discussed if the landlord agreed - I now wish i had offered those things as he might have said yes. Im so mad at myself for not adding these things in the email now

[wowfudge]

There are two different issues here: the landlord's failure to fix the radiator and you wanting a cat but being refused.

Whatever your complaints about the decor, etc - you saw that when you viewed the place and agreed to take it. But the radiator needs to be fixed, and quickly.

With regard to the cat, we had a cat and when we moved out of our old home and let it tenants, they asked could they cats. We said yes, but I wished I had refused. After some issue with the next door neighbour's dogs, they were kept inside and scratched the wallpaper, the kitchen pelmets, all sorts. So I can quite understand the landlord saying no to you. You shouldn't have paid a deposit before you'd had an answer.

[unimaginativename13]

My honest opinion is do not get a kitten while you have a new born baby firstly!

Also it is his house and why would he want to take the risk on ruining it.

If you get fleas into the house and left he wouldn't be able to move any one in, they are a nightmare to get rid of and costly.

Cleaning cat wee from carpets again is challenging.

Where they jump into windowsill you get little claw marks.

You might say you can cover this but how does he know.

(Sorry- and i speak from someone who has kept cats in rented properties)

[Rinceoir]

To LLs saying "but you saw the decor"- can I just point out that it is RARE to find a property which is not magnolia all over. It may seem a small point but to those of us who rent with families/long term it can be really annoying not be allowed to hang a picture or paint a wall in our own homes. I rent as I am embarking on a 3 year post, after which I will likely move and settle somewhere else. It just isn't practical for us to buy right now but would really love to put my own temporary touches to the house I will be spending so long in.

[Rinceoir]

Sorry, that little rant had nothing to do with cats!

[andreaxo]

thank you everyone for your comments and opinions, obviously I will have to forget about having the kitten live with me and just be grateful he is at my mums house and i can still see him!
I am awaiting a reply on the bedroom radiator and really hope they can fix it.
Makes me angry that irresponsible pet owners have to spoil it for the people who genuinely will be responsible for their pets.
Oh well

[specialsubject]

I rented out a property that had lots of colours in it. The second lot of tenants asked to paint it white (and did so, with permission). You can't win with colours or lack of, hence the landlord beige which is dull but doesn't upset anyone. BUT hanging pictures certainly should be allowed, assuming tenants will pay for repairs if they nail through a pipe. (happened to someone on landlordzone recently).

properties are rented at 'market rent', not 'pay through the nose'. Yawn.

cats can cause a LOT of damage which would need a huge deposit to cover. Clawed woodwork is very expensive even if you accept wrecked carpets. Allowed cats once, sorry - never again.

BUT the unfixed issues mentioned are not acceptable. OP, if you think the agent is just ignoring you (and it is not impossible) contact the landlord directly. As you know you are entitled to his/her contact details. You rented a property with 'n' radiators and all 'n' should work.

[specialsubject]

I rented out a property that had lots of colours in it. The second lot of tenants asked to paint it white (and did so, with permission). You can't win with colours or lack of, hence the landlord beige which is dull but doesn't upset anyone. BUT hanging pictures certainly should be allowed, assuming tenants will pay for repairs if they nail through a pipe. (happened to someone on landlordzone recently).

properties are rented at 'market rent', not 'pay through the nose'. Yawn.

cats can cause a LOT of damage which would need a huge deposit to cover. Clawed woodwork is very expensive even if you accept wrecked carpets. Allowed cats once, sorry - never again.

BUT the unfixed issues mentioned are not acceptable. OP, if you think the agent is just ignoring you (and it is not impossible) contact the landlord directly. As you know you are entitled to his/her contact details. You rented a property with 'n' radiators and all 'n' should work.

[imwithspud]

I'm torn on this, our landlords are really laid back and are happy for us to decorate as we see fit, re: pets well we have a bearded dragon, but since he is kept in a vivarium 95% of the time he is unlikely to cause any damage. They have asked how ever that if we ever intend on getting a cat or a dog then to speak with them first. I understand it, its our home yes, but it's their house and if/when we do move (hopefully not for a good long while as we adore it here) then deposit deductions aside it will be them having to deal with any excrement or damage caused as a result, having money to cover any damage is only half the solution, the other half require man power to get the job done.

We try to be really good tenants, we will sort an issue out ourselves if we can, rent is always paid on time and we keep the place clean, but ultimately it is and always will be their house and they have a right to set boundaries where they feel appropriate.

That said they do need to be on the ball with repairs. Especially with the radiator as that's not good when you have a small baby and winter approaching. So keep on at them about that.

Ultimately you have two choices, either stay put with no cat, or find something elsewhere that will allow you to have a cat.

[andreaxo]

I dont dare contact the landlord directly as the agent deals with everything and would be scared he would serve me notice for invading on his privacy

[SweetAdeline]

Offering a higher deposit wouldn't help because with the new deposit protection schemes it can be quite difficult for landlords to claim the full replacement/repair cost of any damage because it's not new for old. So if your cat damages a carpet that is a few years old the landlord may not be able to hold you responsible for the cost of a new carpet. So it doesn't really make a difference how big the deposit is.