Rental Properties

[Greenkit]

AIBU to say, if you rent out your property, you shouldn't be able to stipulate 'No Pets, No DSS, No Sharers, No Smokers, and sometimes No Children (Although that may have changed)

If you are worried about damage then have extra deposit costs to cover.

After a marriage break down, I am having to rent and I am unable to take my 3 whippets with me as the landlord, doesn't allow pets. If fact its seems no one allows pets.

If you can't afford to cover several months without rent, then you shouldn't be letting property. If you are emotionally attached to a place, then you shouldn't be letting it. If you're unable to let your tenants have quiet enjoyment of the property, then letting isn't for you.

There are so many fucking clueless amateurs playing at being landlords in the UK. The entire system needs an overhaul.

@EthelHornsby Where’s that ?

In stoke on trent that’s about the right price

Near reading a1.5 bedroom terrace house £300,000 and that’s the cheapest in the area.

I know which one I’d call affordable.

@Bluelady

Do you really think people would build houses and sell them off cheap if there wasn’t a demand for them from buy to let landlords?

They just wouldn’t have build them full stop.

but no struggling young couples seem to want it either

Auction properties tend to require a cash buyer if not a business/commercial buyer who can secure that type of loan. Struggling young couples may not have £25k in cash. Also if it's in a bad area, it will be hard to sell.

If buy to let was abolished those houses would still be built, why on earth wouldn't they be? Every builder wouldn't suddenly stop building.

Ethel where on earth are you? I’m in Manchester and even in the shitbits there’s a huge demand for Victorian. Stuff only goes to auction if there’s something wrong with it round here

I have dogs and anyone who says their houses doesn’t smell with dogs is deluded. The second i get back off holiday the just general dog smell hits me. Thankfully my dogs are actually written into my tenancy. All houses with pets smell of that pet. I know someone’s who keeps snails and even that smells. When we moved in the previous tenants children had ripped wallpaper, drawn over the walls etc and we had the pleasure of a shed full of dog crap too. There needs to be better protection for both sides.

Chillpizza quite frankly you clearly don't keep your dogs clean enough then. Our house does NOT smell, and no, i am NOT nose blind. Some on here judge all dog owners by their own low standards of dog cleanliness!

The thing is, it's all very well saying you'd pay an extra deposit, but this could have the effect of making much higher deposits the norm! This makes it hard for people in low paid jobs to move- and may also make people less likely to pay their last month's rent (as they need it for the next deposit.

As a tenant, I like the rights I do have and wouldn't want to compromise on these. I would love a pet, but accept that it will be easier to wait until I am a home owner. I accept some people are in individually difficult situations, but it's not as simple as you make it sound.

That said, do know people who rent with a dog and three cats, and others with pets, so you can sometimes find a willing landlord if you look!

Yabu

I live in a house that used to be rented out to smokers. We redecorated throughout, and replaced all the flooring. The house still has an odour five years on. I don't think it will ever be gone.

As for dss, most mortgages will not allow rental to tenants on benefits, as it is statistically too high risk.

Delta I let out my family home whilst we are abroad. We rent an historic property from a local landlord, that has emotional significance for him. It works.

I don't need the rent on my house, I want it occupied as it is an older property. The mortgage is paid out of income, and is not dependent on the rent to cover it.

MrCharlie If I didn't let my house, it would stand empty til we move back next year. It's providing a home for someone, and will be a home for us again next year. It would not have been sold whilst we were abroad (HM Forces for most of that time), as we needed a house to return to.

Chillpizza, did you look at the link I posted? Not all dog breeds smell. Why can't people believe that?

Your house may smell but I can assure you mine doesn't. As I have said ten bloody million times before, if my house smelt my MIL would have told me.

I simply don't believe a house retains the smell of smoke after five years. That idiot, Kirsty Allsop, once said the only way to get rid of the smell was to replaster. Complete bollocks.

I don’t know about the smell, but there’s some research into third hand smoke which implies that some of the toxins linger for a very long time in houses. Don’t know how reliable it is, but I remember reading about it when we were shopping for secondhand furniture.

YABU. We have rented out properties to people on Housing Benefit and the consequences were dreadful. The last one almost destroyed the house, she bypassed the electricity illegally. Allowed the front room as her dog's kennel. Ripped up the laminate flooring to patch up the front door that they'd also broken. Took the HB payment and did not pass it on to us. Destroyed the bathroom, kitchen and carpets. Her teenage son had also knocked nails/staples in to every piece of wood in the house, I'm talking skirting boards, architraves, door frames etc. Took months and about 6k to bring it back to standard. So there's no way I'd ever rent out to anyone on UC etc. We now rent out our former home, no pets or smoking.
End of the day, if it's your property you can do what you want, as long as it is not breaking tenancy law/equality laws etc.

I also don't understand this notion that a landlord can evict people at a moment's notice. As long as you pay the rent on time and abide by the tenancy, you cannot be removed. If you want a longer tenancy then ask for it. I'd certainly be happy to offer a 24 month contract.

Good tenants are worth it. As ours have been so good, we've renewed the tenancy without increasing the rent. I do think that respect works both ways. As my tenants were not aware of their rights, I have them information on their rights (access, gas safety etc.) and who to contact if any regulations were broken.

I rented with a small dog. We got the property on Open Rent as it's mainly or totally directly renting from private landlords and they don't charge admin fees. You can search for pet friendly rentals and DSS friendly.

I paid a £200 pet deposit and had to sign a separate dog contract (from the Dog's Trust).

It's definitely more challenging finding pet friendly rentals. I think in some areas there are hardly any. Sometimes having more than 1 or 2 dogs makes it more difficult too.

blue lady you are welcome to come and smell our house!

We have done everything possible to get ride of the smell (everything binned, new bathroom and kitchen, repaint and new flooring throughout) apart from replastering.

It's not a strong odour, but if the doors and windows are closed then it is noticeable. I try to ventilate regularly.