Landlord and pets

[user1474371557]

I am probably just venting (and I know there have been other threads about this) but my landlord has refused my request for a pet. I could understand if it was a cat or a dog but my request was for three small dwarf hamsters that would be kept in their cage. The cage I had in mind was so big they would never need out. I am a good tenant (even though I say so myself) and there have been no issues about rent or repairs (I do them myself). But the landlord had the check to say I could get tropical fish!!! Surely if the tank broke it would cause more damage than hamsters being kept in their cage. I was willing to pay a larger deposit and for any damage they would do (which lets be honest wouldn't be none). I am so upset about this. I realise that this is their property but really.......... I can get a horrible fishtank but not a hamster cage.

[LokisUnderpants]

We have 4 cats so it can be really hard to find a rental property that's ok with them.

We threw money at it and it worked. Offered a month or so extra deposit to allow us to keep the cats.

[SecretPeanut]

I second Lokis comment. Money keeps them quiet. Offer a 'pet bond' basically an additional deposit. If your pets are highly unlikely to cause any damage then giving the landlord an additional deposit shouldn't be a problem

[EssentialHummus]

LL here. Honestly, I wouldn't have asked. Dogs, cats etc can cause damage and long-lasting smells. A hamster? I'd have bought it and got on with my life. If they happened to see it - which they shouldn't, as I hope they'd not show up unannounced - I'd say it was my child's class pet or something.

I know that's dishonest and not that helpful, but who the hell could claim that a hamster would cause damage? What's it going to do, escape and slowly nibble the furniture?

[user1474371557]

Thank you for your comments. I did throw money at the landlord and even that didn't work. I know the landlord, who lives very close by, comes and looks in my windows so we couldn't even get away with sneaking one in. I just can't believe she refused. Mind you she must live a somewhat boring life to be interested enough to come and stare in my windows and get all hot and bothered about a hamster's cage.

[specialsubject]

The rules are that consent shall not be unreasonably refused. Reasons could include a no pets clause in the freehold (my rental has one which says dogs and cats only), a tenant out at work all day but wanting to keep a dog and so on.

But a cage of rodents that stay in the cage and die within two years doesnt seem an issue.

Meanwhile write to your landlord and remind her of quiet enjoyment and the penalties for harrassment.

[AnyTheWiser]

Perhaps they're worried about flea infestations?
Or lingering smells?

[Andagainandagainandagain]

My experience was that hamsters can cause damage. They kept escaping at night (depite attempts to stop them). They would then hide behind appliances and chew through wires until we woke up in the morning and fished them out. One even made it upstairs and onto my brothers bed in the middle of the night. Think you should be able to stop this but I wouldn't describe fish as more risky having owned those too!