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AIBU?

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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:
amispeakingenglish · 09/01/2020 19:48

Not lodgers if you aren't living there too. Tenants.

73Sunglasslover · 09/01/2020 19:54

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.

Deep cleaning will not remove allergens. If you have a serious allergy all soft furnishing and carpets will need to be disposed of.

Sj802580 · 09/01/2020 19:55

I agree being a tenant is miserable. We have 4 children, always worked and paid rent on time... have had to move 4 times in 3 years. First time landlord sold property, second time landlord wanted to move into property, and third time landlord wanted property for a vicar ( church owned) Renting is so unstable I’m sick of it. We are saving up for a house big enough for us. Rentals are sky high..then on top of that there are lists of rules that need to be followed....no dogs, no cats, no painting etc...makes you feel second class 🙁

BBInSleepsCounting · 09/01/2020 19:57

Good tenants are worth their weight in gold, as are good landlords.

There are plenty of cats who don't damage anything or wee where they shouldn't. Let's hope, if they actually have got a pet living there, it's one of those.

If they have got a pet or moved in with an existing one without permission, it is regrettable, of course. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me though. I would do the inspection first, see what that throws up, and take it from there.

It sounds like your tenants have come to look on the house as their home, which is understandable. It could even be a good thing for you OP if it means they want to stay, you want to carry on letting out the house, and they are generally good tenants. It could be much, much worse than a small pet and a tv on the wall, believe me.

There's rarely such a thing as a perfect tenant, perfect landlord, perfect owner-occupier. It's all give and take in my experience.

Wallywobbles · 09/01/2020 20:00

In France you cannot refuse domestic pets in an unfurnished rental. They can be refused in holiday rentals. Not really relevant to the discussion but a likely outcome for any law changes.

73Sunglasslover · 09/01/2020 20:05

In France you cannot refuse domestic pets in an unfurnished rental. They can be refused in holiday rentals. Not really relevant to the discussion but a likely outcome for any law changes.

I totally get why this would suit some people and how hard it is being restricted as a tenant. But this does mean that you might make it impossible for people with severe allergies to be landlords. Or at least to go into their 'own' houses (so can't do inspections, can't do any maintenance or cleaning between tenants, can't meet tenants there to show them around and help them settle in). I hope any law changes have some middle ground especially as you are of course making it impossible for anyone with allergies to also live in the house. I think it takes around 2-3 years for cat dander to get out of a house and deep cleaning does very little to speed that up. When I rented, I was very, very ill due to this issue. It was life threatening. I am lucky to be here.

Sallyjo27 · 09/01/2020 20:32

We are renting, and we actually asked our landlords first if we could have a cat and she more more than happy that we had asked first. (We couldn’t find anything in the contracts and we didn’t want to get a cat and then be told we’d have to find somewhere else for it to live) if your tenants keep the house clean and pay the rent on time I don’t see the problem? Our cat has caused no damage to the property whatsoever. Actually it’s helped the rat problem in the area 🙈

Pipandmum · 09/01/2020 20:39

I'd just write them saying you understand they have cats and these are not allowed under the terms of the lease and either the pets go or you will not be renewing. See how they respond. Your allergy is irrelevant- lease says no pets.

CatLandlady · 09/01/2020 21:20

I’m a landlady and I have a cat (in my own house).

My tenancy agreement says ‘no pets’. I think it depends on if you have carpets in your rented house and/or if it’s furnished or unfurnished. And the existing standard of the rental I suppose.

My own cat has clawed our 2.5 year old carpet (that’s very new IMO!) and I wouldn’t want that to happen in my rental. Having said that, it’s hard floors throughout BUT it’s furnished and I wouldn’t want my furniture damaged either.

If you have no carpet (or already shit carpets) and no soft furnishings then let them stay. If you’re precious about such things, and can afford for the house to be empty between tenants, then I’d think about giving them reasonable notice. But think seriously if they’re otherwise great tenants!

CatLandlady · 09/01/2020 21:23

Actually, the sofa and arm chairs only cost me £100.... hmmm... if my current (easy) tenants wanted a cat I might say yes but I’d replace the sofa from their deposit if it was nailed by the cat! Oh, but I wouldn’t let them fit a cat flap so maybe not!

numberoneson · 09/01/2020 21:36

If they're otherwise good tenants and you don't expect to be moving in after them with your cat allergy, I'd do as others have suggested and tell them they'll need to pay for any cat damage when they do leave, but I'd renew their tenancy - pretty mean spirited not to if the cats haven't damaged your place. I wouldn't have thought about asking for permission to mount a tv, by the way.They are paying to live in the home, not come running to mummy so to speak, wwhenever they wan to make a minor change, which I'd think the tv counts as.

Cherrysoup · 09/01/2020 21:45

FFS life as a tenant is a miserable existence

Yeah, fucking landlords, wankers, the lot of them, getting a call from a tenant on their way to work and resolving the issue (needed new shower and kitchen taps rather suddenly) by 5pm. Bastards!

Stop making sweeping statements, some tenants are extremely happy and have great landlords.

Runnerduck34 · 09/01/2020 23:40

Hard one, they have broken the terms of their tenancy agreement, but cats dont usually cause damage. I know you have a pet allergy, are you planning on living in the house in the near future? If not and you rarely visit your allergy shouldn't be an issue, I think if they are nice tenants that pay on time I'd keep them. The only thing I would say is that if the flat is rented as furnished the cats could scratch the furniture, but that's only a problem if the furniture is yours not theirs. Presumably at end of tenancy house is professionally cleaned anyway, including carpets? And if anything is damaged you could withhold part of the deposit?

Blacksheepcat · 09/01/2020 23:45

Is it a house that you intend living in soon or is it an investment/rental property?
I can’t see the problem with allowing a couple of cats really. You may be allergic but you don’t live there. It’s their home and if they are settled and happy they will be looking after the property and treating it like a home (which includes pets for a lot of people). I’d keep them if they are good tenants.
TBH, toddlers would cause more mess/damage but you wouldn’t ban them having kids would you?

SueDoeName · 09/01/2020 23:51

This really really pisses me off about rentals

They always say no pets . Do home owners never have pets?

I'm very lucky my landlady's an animal lover. I have a 56 kilo German shepherd who guards the place . Never done one bit of damage. And I've carpeted and furnished the place anyway. My landlady's given me a puppy. I know I'm incredibly lucky but what do landlords actually think pets do???? My dogs are perfect housemates. No damage. Why are most landlords against tenants with normal pets?

fligglepige · 09/01/2020 23:57

No pets does mean no pets I think. But yapping about the mounting on the TV on the wall is petty. Loads of people have their TV on the wall, it's normal and the holes can easily be fixed with a bit of pollyfilla or gypsum. Do they pay their rent on time and is the place riddled with damp because they don't open the windows or put the heat on is what you should be worried about. Because that's what might happen with the next lot of tenants.

Baker1985 · 10/01/2020 00:00

Do a house inspection yes they put telly on wall an have cats but as long as there looking after the house it's clean an tidy no damage then what's the problem. As they say better the devil u know could get much worse Tennants

Barryisland · 10/01/2020 00:09

Needs to BE renewed not need renewed.

pigsDOfly · 10/01/2020 00:20

As a landlord I'd be pretty pissed off in your position because you haven't been asked if having pets is something you're okay with.

I currently have a tenant who asked if I would be okay with their dog before they moved in. I've agreed and instructed my agent to ask for the equivalent of five weeks rent as deposit.

I've never had tenants with a pet before but I've had some bloody awful tenants. One had to be evicted by bailiffs; took six months to get them out with no rent. I've had tenants who sublet the house and left it in such a disgusting condition that I had to have it redecorated from top to bottom and so on.

If the tenants with the dog are good tenants and look after the house then I'm happy. I just want to know it's properly clean when they leave.

I've had cats in my own home and currently have a dog. I have never had an animal do any damage to my home.

As pp said, good tenants are like gold dust. If these tenants pay their rent, look after the property and are generally good tenants I'd be very wary about getting rid of them because of the cats. Although, I would make it very clear that I'm not happy about them not asking before they got them and would be having a conversation about what you expect in terms of extra care that the cats do no damage.

sunshine11 · 10/01/2020 06:44

A good tenant can be worth their weight in gold. And cat owners tend to be nice people (I’m biased!).

Could you find a way to compromise where they pay more deposit to cover any act caused damage and yet get to keep their cats? Otherwise if you give them notice what’s the likely time and cost associated with finding new tenants? Which would be the greater hassle?

Btw we’ve had two cats for as long as I can remember and our house is pristine. I think some cats can cause damage but not in the way that dogs do (chewing!).

Perhaps it comes down not to ‘what’s legally right’ but what will be easier for you in the long run?

onioncrumble · 10/01/2020 07:26

We have 3 let's and welcome people on benefits and pets. We make sure we leave them in peace to enjoy the privacy of their own home and keep everything in good condition. We have just put a tenant in a hotel for a week so we could replace the boiler. I hate landlords who act like lady bountiful. I am indebted and grateful to the people who rent from us and I hope I have given them a decent home in return. So often renters are not in a great position to make choices about where they live, they are paying you, you are not doing them a favour!!

londonrach · 10/01/2020 07:30

Id give notice for both the tv and cats. Issue section 21. Wonder what else theyve done

londonrach · 10/01/2020 07:32

Its the fact thry didnt ask thats the problem here. If they asked about the cats and were good tenants thats totally different. You cant not renew though as goes onto rolling contact. Issue section 21 and do this probably

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/01/2020 08:40

The house is in Northern Ireland. Section 21 means nothing there....

That's why so many posters further upthread, like me, were ken to know where it was. So we could give relevant advice!

You cant not renew though as goes onto rolling contact. And that isn't correct either! Not anywhere in the UK!

MzHz · 10/01/2020 08:41

Personally I would tackle this now.

Tell them that I know about the cats, that it’s a breach of contract and that I’m not going to do a straight renewal, that I want a new contract with a new rental amount to take into account that all furnishings/carpets etc will need to be replaced. I’d get an estimate and spread it out over x number of years

They know what they’re doing and it’s absolutely not on, especially when you’re allergic.