Letting to someone who owns a 15 month old a cat

[Muddle2000]

Bigger deposit or what?
Litter use only in the contract?
Thanks

[specialsubject]

You cant put unenforceable clauses in the.contract - or rather you can, but it is a waste of time. Bigger deposit to cover clawed or excreted on carpets and woodwork, full inventory including garden without cat crap.

At least it wont bark, smoke or grow cannabis.

[EttaJ]

Less damage than some children. Most people pay a bigger deposit.

[FuzzyWizard]

What do you mean by litter use only? Do you mean you don't want them to let the cat outdoors? Lots of cat owners wouldn't agree to that although your tenant might be happy to. Surely the usual deposit would be sufficient? Anything a cat can damage a person could damage equally badly. There might be a slightly greater chance of you needing to withhold some of the deposit for damages but the amount of deposit shouldn't need to be higher really unless you usually take an unusually small deposit.

[anyoldname76]

never known a cat draw on the walls or drop a fag end on the carpet

[Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016]

Just so for all carpets to be cleaned on vacating.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

We had an additional clause written in when we got a cat. It only changed the contract in one way: must have carpets cleaned at end of tenancy.

[specialsubject]

oh yes, one more thing - look into flea treatment at end of tenancy. Once the animal goes the next tenants can get eaten alive, someone started a thread about being on the receiving end.

if the cat gets leaky you'll need to replace carpet and underlay. Due to wear and tear you don't get full replacement costs back, so bear in mind if considering new carpet.

I would actually encourage the cat to be outside, perhaps even by fitting a cat flap.

[Muddle2000]

Thanks to you all
Fuzzy it is a house cat which is making me more cautious.
Special I have discussed flea treatment to be told "it does not have
fleas." Also told it does not pee indoors....
What is an unenforceable clause ?
Yes I have already stated I would need a bigger deposit and
explained what sort of damage it covers

[FeckTheMagicDragon]

Two indoor cats owner - insist on flea treatment, damage to furnishings, carpet cleaning at end of tenancy, and put a clause in about replacing carpets & underlay in the event of urinating. Cat behaviour can change, fleas can be transported by visitors (human or animal- inc wild) and then multiply on cat. She's lucky to get a landlord who will accept a cat!

[FuzzyWizard]

In that case I think it's pretty pointless putting litter use only in the contract. No cat owner wants their cat to pee outside of the litter tray. Most cats won't go outside of their tray unless something is wrong with them but any cat could get ill or stressed and go outside of the tray despite having never done so before. There is pretty much nothing that a cat owner could do to 100% guarantee it would never happen. I'd just insist carpets are cleaned at the end of the tenancy and make sure the deposit is enough to cover damage to sofa etc if the property is being let furnished.

[FuzzyWizard]

I would insist on the cat being flea treated though. Indoor cats can get fleas. My mum's indoor cats got a horrible infestation once.

[ShortLass]

I let out my house to people with a dog once. Agents made them pay 1.5 months rent as a deposit. Also stipulated they need to get a professional company to steam clean carpets on moving out.

Dog was lovely. Had no trouble with it. It's a family house and figured dogs are often part of the family, so why not. Little tearaway children with their crayons and projectile vomit can also be part of the family. So it didn't bother me. Perhaps I was lucky it all turned out fine, but I don't think so.

[specialsubject]

I am thinking that you cant enforce litter tray use !!

Just ask for bigger deposit to cover flea treatment at end. No fleas, no deduction.

[scaryteacher]

I let my house out as suitable for cats, and I rent abroad with two cats. I do not require an extra deposit, neither was the deposit raised here.

I will not let to those who own dogs however.

[Muddle2000]

Thanks for all your replies.
The prospective tenant has had to move town for her job
and leave the cat at the old flatshare as no one will let with a cat
We know another person with a cat who has had to pay
increased deposit etc
So even with larger fees one still needs to reckon with the fact
that a carpet may have to be changed
The problem is tenant insists cat will not do xyz so no good actually
Forget it Thanks again

[lazymongoose]

This kind of thing annoys me a cat is going to do much less damage than an unruly toddler for example...our landlord was a dick when we asked if we could move our 4 year old very behaved family cat into the house after a family death. He said he had tenants with a Guinea pig once that chewed the carpets so no. Because cats are the same and have a habit of chewing carpets the house had mice when we moved in ffs.
We're moving out. Animals are family and he had no empathy. Would of be happy to pay extra on our deposit and we professional cleaned the carpets of our last house (without being asked) just because we wanted to leave in in great condition for them. Unfortunately if you say no to pets completely you miss out on good tenants, and 6 months down the line have to look again for tenants. Sounds exhausting to me.

[AngelBlue12]

Threads like this make me love my landlord, we have children and cats and a dog. I dread the thought of ever having to move as we would never find anyone else like him.

Try having empathy for people who would probably much rather buy than rent but will never be able to.

[minatiae]

cats don't cause much damage, especially if it's an unfurnished property. I think more landlords should be open to allowing cats. as many have pointed out, kids damage much more than a cat does! I had cats in my rented places before I bought my own place and hid them from the landlord because nobody would allow them. would much preferred to have paid a deposit and not had to be secretive and hide cats every time LL came round.

Just charge a small pet deposit if it bothers you.

[Muddle2000]

Lazy - Totally agree. You were good tenants so yes I would have allowed
the cat - a complete dumbo LL
Angel- first to agree re housing shortage - at least we should have
affordable places to rent. Alas SOME tenants take the piss and when
LL have a bad experience they become wary. Also with some tenants
they will not compromise.

[InformalRoman]

We rent with a (well behaved) cat, and just paid a bit more deposit. One prospective landlord said he preferred tenants with a pet, as it showed they were responsible people.

Although having watched Can't Pay We'll Take It Away, I'm not quite so sure.

[ZaraW]

I've had tenants with cats and have had no issues as said above small children can cause considerably more mess/damage. The pet owners who I have rented out to stay considerably longer as it's such a hassle finding a landlord happy to accept pets.