if your child has an animal allergy would you/could you buy a house that had had animals in it?

[hatwoman]

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I'd do it if I was prepared to have all the carpets replaced and the place thoroughly cleaned.

depends how bad their allergy is, if they are anything like me, i have a severve allergy to cats, and cant be in a room where a cat has been, even weeks after i can have a reaction.

Also if the house has carpets, then the hairs could be still in it.

Agree-depends on how bad the allergy is.

I am extremely allergic to horses and rabbits. Am fairly allergic to cats but not nearly to the same extent. Earlier this year we had to stop viewing a house after a minute cause they had a rabbit - would never have bought it just cause of that. We did however buy a house where 2 cats had lived. I had an asthma attack after both viewings. Once we'd bought it my mum and I cleaned it from top to bottom (and it had been left clean) including washing any curtains that had been left and washing all the carpets (with one of those 'professional standard' machines you can hire). For a week after we moved in I left the windows open a lot and was a bit wheezy every evening but since then all has been fine.

Sorry - that was long. Anyway, it can be done but I wouldn't have risked it with my worst allergies.

yes i would, but i would be fully prepared to gut the whole house, removing carpets and wall coverings etc

interesting. we had someone come to view our house today - except they didn;t. they took one look at the dog and said there was no point even looking. it is, however, for rent, rather than sale, which probably means they have more choice, can afford to be more concerned about the allergy thing given that it's not a long-term commitment (ie probably happy to compromise on other stuff if it's only for 6 months or a year) and don;t have the option/inclination to replace carpets - (well they do I suppose but t'would be hellish expensive for a rental property). i felt for them because they did look disappointed and it must be such a nightmare having aspects of your life decided like this.

we took on this place knowing that the people leaving it had a dog. the only room thats still has carpet is our room. if they had had cats, i wouldnt have considered it due to dd's allergies resulting in asthma attacks. we had a good clean when we moved in, and regularly vacumn with our allergy dyson.

If it's any help, DS's paediatrician told me that cat hairs remain in a house, even with daily vacuuming, for a year after the cat has gone.

Not sure. We moved into a house which previously had a cat. Lots of hair about, but only carpet was hall and stairs. This has now been replaced and DD excema is rather better than before. Coincidence? Cause/effect? Not cat related just dirt related due to being a minging ancient carpet, and the plaster coming down in the hall? Who knows.

Can strongly recommend a massive clean, including a bottle cleaner down the gaps in the radiators, and pulling out the kitchen cupboards. The fossilized cat turd was an unpleasant discovery, but Id rather have found it than left it...