To get a cat without asking landlord?

[lananana]

Wooden floors throughout so no danger of carpets being ripped. Previous tenant smoked and left the house in a state which I spent ages cleaning. Agents said no pets when I moved in.

Only a crap, selfish pet owner would do that. You're bringing the pet into an unstable house - it's life isn't secure, a lot of pets end up in rescues because their owners can't keep them where they live. If you're not mature enough to actually have a mature conversation with your landlord, offer extra deposit etc and get proper permission to have a cat then don't do it!

(And I can't think of a cat I've owned that has ever caused any damage to my house!!)

A cat who is played with, has a scratching post and who's claws are kept regularly clipped is very unlikely to cause any damage. Mine can even be trusted with a 9ft Christmas tree they spend 90% of their time asleep.

I'm always baffled by landlords who want to put such hefty restrictions on people, I could maybe understand refusing a massive dog, I could understand if it was furnished but an furnished property? Carpets or floors more damaged would be done walking around in shoes than a family pet. Most people really don't let their pets or children for that matter run around in a big ball of destruction, if they do then they are likely to do many more things much worse.

If as a landlord your property is that precious to you, maybe consider not renting it out and sell it. It may be your property but it's somebody's else's home, a cat is hardly going to cause thousands and thousands of pounds worth of damage unless it's been on the catnip and if it did that is what the deposit is for.

honeyroar - I know your post was to the OP (and I agree that rehoming a pet in an unstable environment is different) but just to clarify that I was renting after a relationship breakup, having lost my stable home, and therefore already had a cat before needing to rent. I was amazed at how many landlords refused. At the time I was so depressed that, as sad as it sounds, it's not an exaggeration to say that my cat helped me get through some very dark and lonely times. I just wish most landlords would realise how important animals can be to some people.

andintothefire not me, but my parents lost a lot of money when an unsanctioned cat ripped up wallpaper and curtains, infested carpets and sofas with fleas and the carpets and floorboards were so soaked with cat wee that some had to be replaced.

I think they'd have said yes if asked beforehand, but after that, not a chance. It's not because they are heartless and evil, it's because they've had their fingers well and truly burned.

LL should be able to rent to who they like, their property their rules.

Cats can cause a lot of damage, not just to carpets.

Just ask the LL and if they say no, then you have a choice to move elsewhere where you can or not get a cat.

Tenants seem to forget that landlords are running a business, not a charity. They likely have mortgage to pay themselves. Even if there is a deposit, no one really wants to use it to make repairs after a property has been damaged. In an ideal world, a lick of paint and new floors would be enough every few years. By banning pets (and kids), you just try to minimise the risks. I have a dog at home (2 even), so I don't hate animals.

Generally deposits aren't big enough to cover "thousands and thousands of pounds worth of damage" Penguin. But if the OP wants a cat she could maybe try offering a bigger deposit and see if the landlord accepts.

I'm allergic to all sorts of things and when I rented I could never rent anywhere where the previous tennants had had fluffy pets or smoked. Now as a landlord I rent out two hypoallergenic properties (hard floors, hypoallergenic bedding, HEPA filtered vacuums) and would never rent o anyone with fluffy or feathery pets (scales by arrangement). It's a niche market but I've never had a problem letting them.

Andintothefire, it's totally different when the pet already exists and you're trying to find a house, I really feel for pet owners in that situation. I've heard a few people persuade landlords to change their minds with references from previous landlords where they've had pets, or bigger deposits. I might sound harsh, but have been involved with rescues for years, and so many come in because people have got animals in places where they weren't allowed them, without asking. And it's always the animal that loses.

Barbarianmum what a brilliant idea. That would really appeal to us.

I was fine because we had a cat ourselves but it did do damage to the wall as it used it as a scratching post so I can understand the reluctance. I would definitely have wanted to have a conversation if the flat had been furnished.

Animal urine seeped into floorboards stinks, and can only be removed by replacing the floor, which costs thousands.
Too right LLs say no pets.

Years back myself and OH rented a flat. It was January so we pumped up the heating and pretty soon were being bitten to pieces. We then found huge fleas were jumping on us. Turns out the previous tenants got a cat (without permission). Landlord majorly pissed as she had to pay a lot of money to have the place fumigated.

Tbh, I think it is irresponsible to own a pet if you are not a home owner. Ok your current landlord is ok with it but what happens when you have to move on? You will really struggle to find another landlord who accepts pets so then you will be forced to rehome them. Sadly, if you cant afford a mortgage you can't afford a pet. Its crap I know, but sadly, life in 21st century UK is crap for most people. Don't make it crap or a pet too.

People treat LLs like they have money to burn. We bought a house on an army corporals wage. We got posted to Germany so rented it out. We were billed something extra nearly every month. The electrician was called out (to change a fuse in their TV, we got our money back eventually on that one) plumber out when they blocked the loo etc. It nearly crippled us and we went without many times with three young children. Because we were taken for an absolute ride. When the tenants moved out we realised they had a cat and several people refused to take it as the garden was poo ridden and it had damaged a window seal in the conservatory. Therefore we were left paying a £450 mortgage on a house we couldn't rent out as well as £400 MQ rent on a £1600 month wage. . Please ask and be respectful!!!

Don't do it OP. You instantly put yourself in the wrong.

The landlord has his or her reasons for saying no pets, and it is fair enough to ask them to reconsider and offer to fund any repairs needed, but they may well say no. I would imagine scratches to the wood floors could be an issue.

I'm not sure why this is so hard for people to understand.

I am not a millionaire landlord with a portfolio of properties, I have one flat which I was unable to sell and ended up renting out thanks to the property crash. The last tenants left me with a £10K bill to repair the flat and make it rentable again. It's a second floor flat which is totally unsuitable for pets, so I've made that clear to tenants.

If someone subsequently decided that didn't matter and they could do whatever the fuck they liked because poor cat and evil LL, then I would be pretty pissed off about it and they would not get their contract renewed, plus I would make sure they paid for every bit of damage.

Yes, tenants should have more rights and yes, the private rental market is shit. But that doesn't mean that tenants can do whatever they like because they personally disagree with one aspect of their contract.

You can't afford your own home. Fair enough. Do you're renting someone else's.

And they should understand you but you shouldn't understand them?

You are hugely entitled.

So

Please ask your landlord.

My agent told me I had to specify 'no pets' for some reason I can't recall right now. I didn't want to deny tenants a proper home with their pets, so they call me when a potential new tenant asks about a cat or dog. I always say yes. So it's not always the landlord who is setting the rules.

"If you can't afford a mortgage you can't afford a pet".

What utter drivel! Does the same apply to children? No breeding unless you're paying a bank rather than a landlord? Just more evidence of how renters are seen as second class.

It is not a reasonable thing to do but I did this and got 2 kittens. They scratched the 30 year old carpets and the landlord tried to claim some of my deposit, I argued that the carpets were totally beyond their life span and got the full deposit returned. Seeing as your rental property is not immaculate I can't see the damage that could be done. I suppose there is the risk of weeing and not being able to get the smell out. The house had a cat flap and one of the kittens ran in when the landlord was there one day, I denied all knowledge but I don't think he bought it.

A while ago I did ask a landlord before getting a cat and he said yes!

Poor old landlords. It must be absolutely terrible to have a spare house hanging around.

There's a cat in my spare house!!!

Acquie that's terrible! You ruined the carpets old or not then he had to foot the bill. You know carpets cost £100s per room right???