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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog in rental property

218 replies

CaptainObviousTwo · 01/08/2017 14:49

Moved into a new house on Friday. Standard tenancy, no pets allowed which I didn't really pay much attention to when signing the contract aso I had no pets.
Roll on the day after my tenancy starts and my Mum has to go into hospital unexpectedly. In the heat of everything, I agree to take her dog to stay at mine whilst she goes in, not really thinking about it wih everything else that was going on.
At lunchtime I got a call from the Estate Agents saying the landlord had been past the property and seen the dog, and dogs aren't allowed.
Well, fuck. I hadn't even thought of that. For context I work in a pretty stressful job as well as running two online businesses and study an OU degree on the side so I've not really slept in days with the house move and didn't think the situation through.

I've gone back to them and explained. I am pretty positive I won't find alternative arrangements for the dog.
I have offered an additional deposit to cover the temporary change and suggested an additional contract labelling me liable for any additional wear to the house.

Dog is clean, fleaed and beautifully behaved and genuinely won't cause any damage. unlike if I had a toddler

I haven't heard back yet and am panicking. I could just put my head on my desk and cry, I'm so stressed.

OP posts:
ShatnersWig · 01/08/2017 14:51

Kennels. It's really not worth risking losing your tenancy over.

Sounds to me as if you have far too much on your plate to begin with.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 01/08/2017 14:54

Agree with kennels. Landlords can be very strict. And it's within their rights to refuse. It's not worth starting off a tenancy on the wrong foot - or get chucked out

Hope your mum is ok Flowers

specialsubject · 01/08/2017 14:54

From your landlords point of view - they see an instant tenancy breach and are seeing the signs of the tenant from hell.

Which you aren't, so tell them. Contact landlord (not agent, landlord), explain what is happening, what your plan is and ask for temporary permission. Unless there's is a freehold clause stopping this, your landlord would be unreasonable to refuse.

If your mum is unable to take the dog back in the long term, there are rehoming charities. Hope she improves and it doesn't come to that.

SilverBirchTree · 01/08/2017 14:55

Don't lose your tenancy over it.

There are websites and apps for pet sitting if you don't like kennels. Maybe do a Facebook post to see if someone you know wouldn't mind doing it for a small fee?

It sounds like you have enough on your plate, throw some money at the problem.

I hope your mum is better soon

Winterview · 01/08/2017 15:00

YABVU

I rent out a house and would be furious if the tenants took in a pet (even on a temp basis). No pets means no pets. Dogs leave a lingering doggy odour that's very hard to get rid of. Not to mention the risk of scratching walls, doors and floors, digging in the garden and weeing/pooing on carpets. Even house trained pets have accidents.

You need to use kennels or risk having your contract terminated!

KatieHaslam22 · 01/08/2017 15:00

When I moved house into a rental property they told me I could not take my dog, I made arrangements for her to move in with my mum (down the road) and see her almost every day and still take her for walks and spend time with her at my mums house, when my mum is away I move in to hers to look after my dog, is this something you would consider or is it not possible? I asked the agency I let the house off why I couldn't have my dog, while she is a large dog she is very well behaved.
I was told the reason I could not have her living with me in my rented house is because of future tenants possibly having allergies.

Original poster
CaptainObviousTwo · 01/08/2017 15:12

The dog absolutely would not cope in kennels.

I've looked for alternative arrangements and I'm not having any luck. To cut a long story short it's me or rehoming him.

On a side note, one would have to have some extreme allergies to react to a house where there had been a dog for a month, a year previously and the place had been professionally cleaned.

OP posts:
perper · 01/08/2017 15:13

You've done the right thing. Regardless of what's in your contract, your landlord will find it pretty much impossible to kick you out or charge you for non-existent damage so don't panic. (I do sympathise with landlords and think they should have the right to choose whether pets live in the house- but I also recognise that actually circumstances change/emergencies happen/most pets cause zero problems. It's more of a safety net for landlords.)

The reality is that they can't just kick you out on the street for breach of contract, and they have to provide substantial evidence of any damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, which will be pretty impossible in your circumstances assuming you keep the house nice! They might try to scare you but in reality you're safe.

Presumably the dog is not going to be with you permanently so to be honest aside from what you've already done I'd wait it out. It will all be fine. If it was a chewy un-toilet trained puppy it might be different, but from what you've said it's not.

I'm curious as to how the landlord saw the dog though- is there an obvious front garden the dog was out in? In a lot of houses the landlord would have had to be peering through the windows, which is not ok!

Really hope your mum makes a speedy recovery- try not to worry, and use the dog as a source of cuddles Smile

CornflakeHomunculus · 01/08/2017 15:14

Try contacting the Cinnamon Trust Captain, thy run a fostering scheme for exactly this sort of situation.

MrsTerryPratchett · 01/08/2017 15:16

What the landlord thinks is that you're the kind of tenant who doesn't give a shit about what the tenancy says and breaks the rules the second you move in. They hear the story about your mother and assume you are lying, because many people do.

Think of alternatives. Any alternatives. And there are better and worse kennels.

MTBMummy · 01/08/2017 15:16

Sorry to hear about your mum.

Could you look at in house boarding for the dog if it's only on a temporary basis? We use one when we go away on a holiday that we can't take the dog on, we've found a lovely lady, who looks after ddog with her two, and when the 3 spot each other on walks they still play like pups.

She's insured and certified as an animal minder by the local council, it may be a viable option for you

DeadGood · 01/08/2017 15:16

Agree with perper

Floggingmolly · 01/08/2017 15:17

There are no dogs who absolutely wouldn't cope with kennels

ShatnersWig · 01/08/2017 15:17

Captain In that case, be prepared to rehome your mum's dog. Or go and live at your mum's if her place isn't a million miles away.

I'm sorry your mum is in hospital but if your landlord doesn't want pets, then they are perfectly entitled to say so and your special circumstances are not their problem.

perper · 01/08/2017 15:19

For what it's worth, the agent should know how weak legally their position would be if they tried to threaten early termination of contract etc., but it's quite possible the person you deal with won't. They might try it on though- I had to inform my last letting agency that their contract held multiple illegal clauses. They argued and claimed it had always been fine in the past, until I showed them the legal evidence- they refused to remove the clause 'as it was part of their standard (illegal) contract' but agreed they couldn't enforce it.

I'm not a nightmare tenant, honest! I was actually a dream tenant. Smile

confusedandemployed · 01/08/2017 15:20

Would it be an option for you to live at your mum's while she's in hospital?

perper · 01/08/2017 15:21

Floggingmolly Actually, there are plenty of dogs that absolutely wouldn't cope with kennels and anyone with an understanding of dogs and welfare would understand that.

talonofthehawk · 01/08/2017 15:22

It's a dog- not a child.
If it won't cope in kennels then it's been mollycoddled too much and you'll have to find other suitable accommodation for it.

YABVU to take a dog you know you are not permitted to have into a RENTED house.

ShatnersWig · 01/08/2017 15:22

perper The landlord could refuse to continue the tenancy at the end of the term and/or give her a poor reference either or both of which could cause the OP a major difficulty.

CosmicPineapple · 01/08/2017 15:23

You have broken the tennancy agreement so yes the LL can ask you to leave. No need to for him to prove any damage.

There are foster carers an internet search should help and local rescues use foster carers also so try there.

I hope your mum is better soon and i hope your LL can allow you time to sort the situation out.

Floggingmolly · 01/08/2017 15:23

How does this "not coping" manifest itself, perper?

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 01/08/2017 15:23

what about the dog staying at your mums house and you (or someone else) popping in every day to walk and feed. Or a lonely neighbour who could do with the company.

I'm not up to speed with legal stuff but I'm not sure they can't chuck you out as per above. You've broken the contract. either way it's not going to make your landlord (and presumably agents who you might need to find another place) like you or trust you very much.

GetOutOfMYGarden · 01/08/2017 15:23

How long is your mum likely to be in hospital for?

ShatnersWig · 01/08/2017 15:24

This may prove useful reading:

www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2016/10/04/tenant-penalties-breaching-tenancy-rules-pets/

mrscropley · 01/08/2017 15:25

Could you advertise for a local person to house it temp? Genuine dog lover may apply!!

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