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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that no pets mean no pets?

289 replies

Aprilcherry04 · 08/01/2020 07:59

I currently have lodgers in a 3 bedroom semi. They seem nice enough and the neighbours say they are well behaved. However their contract says no pets and I found out they have 2 cats living in the property. I was visiting a friend and saw a cat sitting on the window ( inside) as I passed. They contacted me a couple of months back to ask if I was likely to renew contract and I said yes - subject to a house inspection. They have also mounted a 60 inch tv on the living room wall without permission. I have a strict no pets no smoking clause on the tenancy agreement. I have a cat allergy. Contract needs renewed in a month. Aibu not to renew?

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 08/01/2020 08:00

I couldn’t be too bothered about a mounted TV. Most people would make use of a tv bracket after they’ve gone.
YANBU about the cats though. They can damage flooring and window covers very easily

Actionhasmagic · 08/01/2020 08:01

Give them more than 1 months notice to find a place that will allow cats

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 08/01/2020 08:03

Well they have broken terms of their agreement so YANBU to not renew after the inspection. I'm not sure about lodger v rental deposits or anything but can you claim cleaning costs from them as there will be extra hair/potential scratches to fix etc which you wouldn't have had if they didn't have cats.

JasonPollack · 08/01/2020 08:03

Surely three lodgers in their own house are in fact tennants? You wll have to evict them properly via S21 they are not due to leave at the end of the tenancy. Personally if they are otherwise good tenants I would leave it.

KellyHall · 08/01/2020 08:05

Have the cats actually damaged anything of yours? If they're otherwise good tenants, I'd renew. Unless you're going to move in there without having it deep cleaned immediately after they leave I don't see why your cat allergy has any relevance.

BadgertheBodger · 08/01/2020 08:05

Well, they’re not lodgers they’re tenants.

Have you done an inspection? Then you can see if the cats have damaged anything. If there’s damage I would give them notice - as a landlord you will need to serve them with a section 21 notice which is usually 2 months.

BlackCatSleeping · 08/01/2020 08:05

Well, if it was a goldfish or something, maybe it would be ok, but a cat is a big deal. They’re going to find it hard to find a new place to rent that accepts cats. It was very foolish of them.

Not your problem, of course. I’d get rid of them.

bodgeitandscarper · 08/01/2020 08:06

Well I'd ask them about the cats first, they may have been caring for them temporarily rather than them living there?

Seems a bit draconian to not renew the contract if they are otherwise good tenants,I'd rather have someone paying their way and not upsetting neighbours.
Making sure that they cover the costs of a deep clean at the end of the tenancy if they are cat owners would be my way forwards.

cochineal7 · 08/01/2020 08:06

Pick your poison. Don’t look down on three otherwise well-behaved and presumably paying tenants. Just make clear that they should have asked and that you only accept and renew under the condition they pay for any cat related wear and tear and extra cleaning.

MrsMozartMkII · 08/01/2020 08:07

Yes they've broken the agreement, but if they're otherwise good tenants and pay on time then id keep them

The house is already going to have to be deep cleaned and the holes in the wall fixing, so unless you have the time and energy to do both now and a new tenant ready and able to move in soonest, I'd stick with who who've got.

Shmithecat2 · 08/01/2020 08:08

@lastqueenofscotland eh? Window cover and floor damage? I've got 5 cats. All my windows and flooring are just fine 🤔

@Aprilcherry04 why do you calm them lodgers? They're tenants.
Unless they've drilled through some Zoffany limited edition wallpaper, I cant see the big issue with putting a TV up on the wall.
Assuming they've been good tenants otherwise and that they have paid a deposit, any 'damage' a cat does would be covered by the deposit surely? Do you really want to go through the whole S21 and finding new tenants process?

Greysparkles · 08/01/2020 08:09

I'd think carefully here about what you do, if you evict them via section 21, things have the possibility to turn nasty quick, as not many places take pets they may need up staying at yours and you'll have to pay court fees to evict them.
If they are otherwise good tenants, pay rent on time etc, id let them stay but maybe arrange an extra deposit to cover damages cat could do & a deep clean

lastqueenofscotland · 08/01/2020 08:11

Yes I said cats CAN cause damage. I didn’t say yours do... why do people on mumsnet always throw in irrelevant anecdotal evidence?!

BlaueLagune · 08/01/2020 08:11

OP there is a school of thought on MN which says that landlords are unreasonable for not allowing pets so you're on a hiding to nothing here.

However, I kind of agree with the comments above - cats are a lot less messy than dogs - and if they are otherwise good tenants I would leave it. Renew but require them to pay the cost of a deep clean on renewal (just to make the point) and when they eventually move out. And make clear that you will not look kindly on any future pets.

Mulledwineinajug · 08/01/2020 08:12

You don’t even know for sure that they have cats? They could have been caring for someone’s cat.

Soubriquet · 08/01/2020 08:13

Yabu

They are tenants not lodgers therefore they have rights

You can’t just not renew their contract. You will have to do evict them properly

SentimentalKiller · 08/01/2020 08:15

FFS life as a tenant is a miserable existence

Hont1986 · 08/01/2020 08:16

If you aren't living with them, then they aren't lodgers, they're tenants.

There doesn't seem to be a good reason not to allow cats, because your allergy isn't going to be affected if you aren't living there.

Why is your 'no pets' rule so strict?

GruciusMalfoy · 08/01/2020 08:17

They are BU to have cats when their contract says not to have any pets. So it would be up to you if you chose to evict them. If, however, they are otherwise good tenants then I would probably choose to overlook it. A cat is a small deal when you read some of the nightmare neighbours/tenants on here. Maybe you could agree that they'd be paying for a professional deep clean when they left.

Original poster
Aprilcherry04 · 08/01/2020 08:17

Yes tenants not lodgers - its early in the morning I do apologise.I know for sure they have cats. A neighbour told me when I enquired about the lovely new kitten they recently acquired (making their pet quota 2)

OP posts:
Shmithecat2 · 08/01/2020 08:18

@Greysparkles
id let them stay but maybe arrange an extra deposit to cover damages cat could do & a deep clean

In England and Wales at least, you're not allowed to do that any more. The new Tenants Act only allows a maximum of 5 weeks rent as a deposit. The way round this, if the landlord feels it necessary, is to charge more rent in the first place. Pretty short sighted though. Tenants with pets tend to be a bit more reliable, long term tenants because they have pets. I'm sure there are exceptions, but having been a tenant with pets, as have many of my friends and family, we all kept our pets and out homes in good order! The only time I ever lost any part of a deposit was for a new carpet in the office as it became bobbled because of DHs office chair. Nothing to do with our cats 🙄.

StCharlotte · 08/01/2020 08:21

I couldn’t be too bothered about a mounted TV.

I disagree. When we worked away for a few years we rented our house out and the tenant mounted their TV on the wall. We had no intention of doing the same. They didn't make good and it looked like someone had been crucified with all the holes.

BadgertheBodger · 08/01/2020 08:21

You don’t know for sure if a neighbour has told you. You need to do an inspection and see for yourself.

Tombliwho · 08/01/2020 08:22

I wouldn't renew. They're cheeky fuckers. We are tenants and we have one dog which was agreed when we moved in. I'd never take the piss and get a pet if I'd been told no. Where is the respect for the property?

BonnyConnie · 08/01/2020 08:23

YANBU. If they’ve done this contrary to their rental agreement and put up the wall bracket without even consulting you (fair enough if they put it right before moving but leaving it there would be really annoying, contract to what a pp said most people I know would have no use for a tv wall mount, surely people who use that kind of thing are in a minority?) then what else might they do to your property? I rent myself, we always ask our landlord for permission when making alterations to the property and I am always prepared to accept no for an answer. It’s the trade off for not having to own a house,