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Original poster

Landlords and Pets!

20 replies

Jodie199230 · 02/02/2022 16:19

Im currently in a rented property which in my contract states no pets
Ive been here 18 months and house pristine
Ive seen this new blanket ban on landlords saying no to pets
Is this correct?

OP posts:
Malibuismysecrethome · 02/02/2022 16:26

If the landlord has a health reason ie asthma or allergies they can still refuse to rent to anyone with a pet. On reading the new guidelines the tenant will need a responsible pet owner certificate and also be liable for any damage incurred in excess of the deposit.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 02/02/2022 16:29

Do you want a pet?

Original poster
Jodie199230 · 02/02/2022 18:33

Thank you
Yes i do want a pet

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 02/02/2022 18:38

If your contract says no pets I doubt you can. Ask though and see what the LL says. Don’t be like my tenants and get a pet anyway after being told no. That just is rude.

If someone has a pet already I usually let them rent, but honestly I’ve had floors/floorboards/carpets and walls destroyed by pets in the past so I’m very wary.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 02/02/2022 18:40

@Jodie199230

Im currently in a rented property which in my contract states no pets Ive been here 18 months and house pristine Ive seen this new blanket ban on landlords saying no to pets Is this correct?
Where did you see this blanket new ban?

Who can tell a landlord who they can to rent their property to?

FelicityPike · 02/02/2022 18:45

Why not just ask your landlord?
Worst thing they can say is no.

HopefulProcrastinator · 02/02/2022 18:56

It's not just about your current landlord. You need to be fair and think of the pet if you can't get a different rental in the future unless you're a lucky renter on the cusp of being a home owner

The letting market is ruthlessly competitive at the moment so landlords can cherry pick applicants. Having a pet could be the difference between being housed in a timely fashion or risk breaching the notice on a section 21 because your landlord wishes to sell.

nordica · 02/02/2022 18:59

It depends on the property too. If it's a leasehold (a flat usually) then the master lease may have a no pets clause. I owned my flat that had this.

If a freehold house then there is more flexibility and it's worth talking to the landlord. Do consider what happens if you need to move in the future though.

SquirrelG · 02/02/2022 19:03

What a wonderful society we live in, where people who rent are second class citizens who shouldn't be allowed to have pets Angry

I don't live in the UK, but while many rental adverts say "no pets" I believe most landlords will negotiate.

Shitfuckcommaetc · 02/02/2022 19:05

Ask your landlord. Some are very reasonable. We have been here 5years and got a cat this year.
I know a friend who has rented the same property for 10+ years and they agreed she could have a dog. Just ask!

Kstormtrooper · 02/02/2022 19:06

If you're a good tennant, I don't see the harm in asking. Our landlord did a recent u turn about pets by allowing a couple with pets in. TBH I think they were just glad to have someone who wasn't a paedophile or drug dealer

Treacletoots · 02/02/2022 19:08

It's simply a change to the model tenancy agreement so no, landlords don't have to do anything.

But, if you do want a pet it's always worth asking now you've been in the house some time. Assuming you've looked after it and paid rent on time, you may find your landlord may be open to the idea. After all, whilst they can't raise your deposit, they could legally change a 'pet rent' to cover the risk of damage.

As a landlord though, I'd want to be confident you had considered the pets needs and weren't going to keep a dog in the house all day on its own for example. (I had a tenant cause over 2k worth of damage by leaving their dog in the house alone) but I've also had tenants with multiple dogs who left the house spotless. It's all down to being a responsible pet owner and I'm afraid landlords just don't know which you will be Hmm

thecatneuterer · 02/02/2022 19:12

The law you're talking about means that landlords can't put a blanket ban on pets but have to consider any requests on an individual basis. They can of course then consider and reject the idea.

But certainly ask your landlord.

I'm a landlord and I actively market to tenants with pets. I do it because I feel the rental market is unfair in this respect, and also because I feel that way I find nicer tenants and ones that stay longer. And I've never had any problems caused by the pets. I wish I could say the same for some of my human tenants.

Hamstertrousers · 02/02/2022 19:20

The new law says landlords shouldn’t discriminate against people with pets but in reality it doesn’t really happen. If you ask, they may bump the rent up to “cover any potential damage” since they can no longer ask for a larger deposit. If you don’t ask, they still don’t need a reason to evict you.

As a pp said, it’s disgusting we live in a country where people are effectively banned from living normal family lives. There should be proper laws that actually work. It isn’t pets that cause damage it’s irresponsible owners.

Original poster
Jodie199230 · 02/02/2022 20:06

Thanks everyone
Firmly decided against it x

OP posts:
2bazookas · 02/02/2022 20:18

@Jodie199230

Im currently in a rented property which in my contract states no pets Ive been here 18 months and house pristine Ive seen this new blanket ban on landlords saying no to pets Is this correct?
No. The govt has issued a new Model Tenancy Agreement, (which includes pet clauses) but adopting its use is a recommendation, not a legal obligation on LL's.

Within the new MTA, there are still obligations and conditions regarding pets, so even LLs using the NMTA can still legally refuse pets if the property is unsuitable.

SweetPetrichor · 02/02/2022 20:22

We just hid them from the landlord. We asked, they said blanket no despite the contract saying ‘no reasonable request will be denied’…so we got them and just hid them at inspections. We knew we were planning to buy our own place though and now we are beholden to no landlord, thankfully.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/02/2022 20:28

We’ve lived in our rented property for almost seven years - we’re model tenants and look after it really well, rent paid on the 1st of the month rather than the 5th when it’s actually due and so on. After two years we asked if our landlord would consider us adopting an adult cat. She was absolutely fine with it, provided we agreed to make good any damage done. Our cat joined us a month or so later, and the only damage done is to the local wildlife.

Bearnecessity · 02/02/2022 21:55

My landlord is very fond of my dog but then he is a decent human being happy to give an animal a home....

Londongirl8922 · 27/06/2024 10:27

If the contract says no pets you can still challenge your landlord and they have to give a good enough reason why they say no pets...like someone said before allergies ect

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