To say that no pets mean no pets?

[Aprilcherry04]

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?

Like you I’m a landlord of two flats the contracts are no pets, but when lastest tenants where moving in they asked if it was ok to have an indoor cat. Initially I said no but then looked into it (I have a cat) I added to their contract an extra deposit amount and a clause to have all carpets professionally cleaned and documentation provided when they leave. They have there cat and so far no problems, but your tenants have breached their contact

I don't think the issue is as such the cats or the TV mount.
It's more that if they've done this, what else haven't you noticed/will they do which you would like to at least be asked.

We had a situation at work where a hirer (rooms) did a couple of things we thought they probably should have asked, but, oh well, never mind. We'd have said yes to. Now we're in the situation that they frequently do things that we really don't want, and strop if told no.

Also, with the TV mount, when we moved into our house there were some TV mounts we didn't want, so have removed them. Despite filling the holes and redecorating, you can see where the holes were in certain lights. It's certainly not as easy to rectify as people are implying.

Do an inspection. If there's damage, evict and deduct costs from deposit. If there isn't, weigh it up. I don't know how you can make a reasonable decision right now until you know the facts. Your allergy is no more of an issue here than it is in regard to any other house you don't live in that has a cat in it. Tbh it just sounds like you're having a tantrum. Ok so there's a cat and a telly in your spare house. If that's a sufficiently terrible situation for you to be in as to justify taking someone's home off them, knock yourself out.

Ok so there's a cat and a telly in your spare house

Love this. I expect her diamond shoes are too tight as well. What a diva.

It’s really worrying the amount of people on here admitting they are landlords and using words like “I think the law is” or “I’m not sure legally but ..” Christ alive, if I didn’t know vital parts of my job I’d be sacked! It’s no wonder some landlords have a bad name really.

Yanbu BUT finding good tenants is hard. Some cats cause damage, most don’t. Mine just snooze on the sofa / roam outside / comeback in to eat and snooze. It’s also possible that they didn’t plan to have cats but eg took pity on a hungry stray. Personally I’d chat to them and say look I like you, I’d like to renew, but I’m very concerned that you have cats as this is a breach of the tenancy agreement. I’m considering renewing the tenancy anyway but if I decide to do that then you need to be aware that all damage - whether caused by cats or you - will come out of the deposit. Could also consider increasing size of deposit.

I've spoken to letting agency today and I have decided that I will renew contract providing inspection of house is ok.
They do seem like reasonably good tenants, but even so they have broken the tenancy agreement twice, please don't let them think of you as a pushover, get your letting agency to earn their keep and ensure that the letting agency inform your tenant that they are very fortunate that you are so understanding, maybe you could change to a six month contract, a little more expensive I know but it may give you some peace of mind.

It’s really worrying the amount of people on here admitting they are landlords and using words like “I think the law is” or “I’m not sure legally but ..” True. It's not as though good training is notr easily available to everyone who is/wants to be a landlord...

www.rla.org.uk/landlord/courses/becoming-a-landlord-online.shtml

I am a tenant with 2 cats. Lots of families have pets now and for a whole host of reasons are not in a position to buy a property of their own at the current time and therefore rent. We are responsible cat owners, regular worming, flea treatment and so on. We always pay on time and to us this house is our home. Before moving in I did ask the landlady and she seemed reluctant at first so I asked if she’d like to meet them. That way she could see that the property we were in at the time was clean and a home. Don’t have a knee jerk reaction. Yes they should have asked however if they are reliable and pay on time and upon inspection the property is being treated as a home in good condition, let them stay. We went through an agency at first and we were one of the last tenants they signed up as they were getting a lot of aggravation from tenants not being reliable. If you are happy with them and the condition of the house, put the 2 cats in the contract to, I have. That way you’re giving a clear message of no more pets. Also if they have furnished the property themselves, if the cats are going to destroy anything , it’s their own and if they ruin the carpet use the deposit to replace it and pay for a deep clean when they vacate. Would be an awful shame to lose good tenants( if they are) because if 2 cats. As for the tv, ask them to make the walls good before they leave, if not again take from the deposit that’s what it’s there for.

It's your house, they broke the rules, I would probably seek new tenants.

This attitude really annoys me.
People are allowed to have pets. As long as they aren’t pissing all over the house and ripping up carpets, what’s the problem?
Sick of people with money trying to control everyone else.
Back off.
If during the inspection you see evidence that the cats are destroying the place fair enough, otherwise appreciate what good tenants you have that behave, pay their rent on time, get on with the neighbours and who are no doubt are grateful for a roof over their heads.

I’d be more concerned if they were druggies that partied all night.

The tv brackets would annoy me but it’s not unusual these days for TVs to go on walls. So I don’t think it’s unreasonable for them to have asked you first, but it would have been unreasonable for you to have said no. They are cheeky for not asking permission. They will need to make good at the end of the tenancy.

All that is needed here is a Claws Clause.

This attitude really annoys me.
People are allowed to have pets. As long as they aren’t pissing all over the house and ripping up carpets, what’s the problem?
Sick of people with money trying to control everyone else.
Back off

What an absolute bullshit, selfish and appalling attitude! It's fuck all to do with having money or controlling The contract states not pets' that's what the tenant signed up for so that's the rules. If you want pets find a place to rent that allows them and don't rent that house. That's how the you control the situation

Regardless, even if they don't piss all over the place they still leave hair, what happens if the next tenant has allergies and affected by pet hairs, the landlord then can't rent the house out as never had pets. They'd have to replace all carpets and redecorate. Simply cleaning doesn't remove everything. My brother is allergic to cats and even if a house has been cleaned thoroughly he's still end up with a reaction that would actually stop him going to work. YOU are the one being selfish and controlling with an attitude like that

Good update OP, hope the inspection goes well.

I think the problem, with a bit of generalising, is that people fall into two buckets. One is people who abide by what they've signed up to, and wouldn't even dare put a nail in the wall without permission. And possibly even with permission, would be so concerned about damage, they'll make the wall so good you'd never know. The other bucket is the chancers and people who push the limits. They'll decided what's harmless and what isn't and unless you start to make clear what is and isn't acceptable now, goodness know where it will end. They have no regard for the rules. I think OP is generous not to care about he TV bracket, I hate wall mounted teles, I'd be fuming!