Renting with Cats

[1950swallpaper]

I've sold my house and the house I'm buying has been taken off the market at the 11th hour, even though I was about to exchange on it. I have 3 cats. All letting agents say no to cats. I will be renting unfurnished so there is not a lot of damage the cats could do. I also want to buy another house so I will not be renting long term. I know some people will flame me but I'm thinking of not disclosing the cats. I see that eviction would take about 5 months if the landlord was unhappy about the breach of contract. I have to be out of my house with my kids soon and I'm desperate to find a rental! The deposit for the houses I'm looking at is in the region of £1200 which would more than cover any damage a cat could do. The only damage it could realistically cause is to the carpets but I'm thinking I would put tape over them where they meet the doors. As a home owner I am very respectful of property and I know I would be a good tenant in spite of the cats. I have also been a landlord of several properties and seen the destruction humans can cause. (pissing on the bathroom walls, fat splattered all over the kitchen walls, condensation from people drying clothes on storage heaters in a studio flat etc) Nobody ever wanted a pet when I was a landlord so I've never encountered this before. Any advice please?

[sunshinesupermum]

If you are renting unfurnished I agree that there is little likelihood of damage. I wouldn't declare my cat either! Hope you find your new home soon.

[HellonHeels]

I'd do it. Am about to rent out a flat and will allow pets.

Hope you get a new house pruchase sorted soon

[maybeflower]

I guess something to think about is allergies if you're not declaring? I'm not sure how you'd find this out, but might need to ensure the landlord doesn't have allergies, or that you hired a really thorough cleaning company when you leave?

[LOVELYDOVEY05]

Would you need a reference from your landlord?

[1950swallpaper]

I wouldn’t need a reference from any landlord as I’m going from my own home to rented to buying a house again. I see the point about allergies but I could deep clean the carpets especially as I have my own carpet cleaner. Most people in the property business are telling me that landlords are not keen on dogs because of barking and neighbours but cats don’t often cause a problem. I’m going to have to wing it!

[bakingdemon]

The freehold of the building which our rental flat is in doesn't permit pets. If we rented to someone who signed the tenancy agreement which explicitly said no pets, and then discovered that they had pets, we'd have to throw them out.

[Didicat]

I’m in the similar situation and having to pay more in rent than I’d like to, just need to pass all the checks.

You have my sympathies, I’ve declared the two cats but not the guinea pigs as they will be in the garden or garage.

[ShyTown]

We only have the one cat but we got away with not declaring him 3 times. He was removed for inspections and all of our rental contracts required a professional clean on leaving so we got that done and no one was any the wiser.

[Voice0fReason]

I'd do it.
It's a short term solution for a temporary problem.

[Namechange1684]

If you really can't find anywhere that will allow them and won't require a reference, I'd probably do it.

I think sometimes there's just a general no pets clause in the freehold but it's not always enforced. I had verbal consent from my LL to rent with cats and he agreed to allow me to change the tenancy agreement but on reading the full lease I realised later the freehold didn't allow pets so the change to the tenancy agreement was probably void anyway. We lived really openly with them as we initially thought we had permission, but no one in the building cared and at least one other flat also had a cat.

That's not to say you won't end up in a building that's really fussy over pets, but if they are quiet/not causing a problem most people probably wouldn't be bothered.

[AmandaHugenkiss]

My old housemate had a cat we didn’t declare, in at least two rentals. He went outside for inspections. I’m pretty sure the second landlady realised he was ours when he kept meowing at the door, but she said nothing 😂 Probably helped that the house was in better condition when we left than when we moved in!

[KoalasandRabbit]

We rented unfurnished with a cat before - that said no pets but when put to the landlady she said it was no dogs and she did allow a cat. 3 cats maybe more of an issue though. I wonder if they aren't checking with landlords directly if they are just saying a blanket no. One we came across charged extra for cats, £25 a month, ours didn't charge extra but I would have been happy to pay that.

Our cat did damage the carpet tbh - it was on the stairs. I think we found about a third of places would take a cat.

[thegcatsmother]

I always allowed cats when I rented out our family home, as I have cats,(and managed to rent three properties in Belgium with them!). Ask if you can have them...I didn't allow dogs, but no issues with cats.

[RaisinGhost]

I would and have done this. I'm also a landlord so it's not like I hate them or anything. It's a risk you take as a landlord. If something gets damaged and I lose my deposit, so be it.

My tip is before an inspection, check under the couch and behind the doors for cat toys! Those sneaky little toy mice etc end up hiding there waiting to pop out during an inspection.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

I moved house at the end of March and had to get our cats rehomed as the new place was adamant no pets allowed. I wish now I had just lied!

[Northernsoullover]

Normally I'd say don't do it because I'm such a stickler for rules. I've also worked in flea infested cat pissed on houses so they can do a lot of damage. However, you have nothing to lose really. Just be decent and of unsettled cats piss on the carpet don't just clean (it goes through to the underlay) be prepared to pay or lose your bond for new carpets.

[Northernsoullover]

If*

[User43210]

I've been advised before that it can't hurt to ask and they may just ask for additional security deposit/rent amount and something extra cleaning wise at the end of the tenancy.

Maybe if you're looking through letting agents, let them know and they can tell you who may be willing.

The only problem I can see is if you found the perfect place and they said no after.

[WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat]

I think the main problem with 'Renting With Cats' is they always seem to disappear when the rent is due, and they'll eat your food but not contribute to the household bills.

[Requinblanc]

Don't declare the cats...you will only be there for a short time and won't need a reference.

But be a good tenant by giving the flat a good clean and by replacing anything they might have damaged before you hand back the keys of the rented property.

Only thing is that if they need access to the property to do repairs for example, try to get someone to take your cats for the day!

[Salome61]

I'm renting with my cat having sold my house, and was terrified she'd claw at the stair carpet. I have got a large scratching post and do recommend a 'squeaking' cat nip mouse on a hanger from PAH - kept her very busily occupied during her six week's in.

[1950swallpaper]

Thanks for the advice! I have now moved into a house with my 3 cats. I did not declare them. There were 3 lads here before and the house was disgusting when I looked round but the letting agents did a deep clean. My cats could never make as much mess as they did. I shampooed the carpet in my bedroom today as it had loads of stains on it and it has come up pretty nice. The cats are settled and go in and out as they please. I don't have toys for them: only cat bowls so if anyone comes round to inspect, they should be easy to conceal! I don't intend to be here long anyway. It is too expensive!