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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:
Casander · 08/01/2020 08:25

As PP have said, I'd pick my battles. If they're good tenants and they always pay on time and the house is kept tidy and in good condition I'd let the cats slide. And I don't even particularly like cats.

Iusedtobeskinny · 08/01/2020 08:25

I am sure the deposit would cover making good a few holes in the wall, they sound good tenants, even with your nosey neighbour spying on them and reporting back.

Original poster
Aprilcherry04 · 08/01/2020 08:26

The letting agent who I work through dont allow pets or smokers in any of their properties. It's the norm. Also due to my own allergies it just makes things easier. I may move back into the property at some point.

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 08/01/2020 08:26

FFS life as a tenant is a miserable existence

Absolutely! It must be hard to ever feel like you actually have a home.

Shmithecat2 · 08/01/2020 08:29

@Aprilcherry04

The letting agent who I work through dont allow pets or smokers in any of their properties.

What has it got to do with them? When we rented out our house, our agent asked us if we were happy to accept pets etc, not tell us we weren't allowed to. Hmm

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 08/01/2020 08:29

Absolutely would go through the agency to serve notice appropiately in advance ofnthe contract ending so its all legal.

Im vallergic to cats and noway would I be happy. When I rented out our home it was a key point that we really couldn't have
animals. I wouldnt be able to move back in easily and hosues wih pets always have a pet smell.

SaskiaRembrandt · 08/01/2020 08:29

The letting agent who I work through dont allow pets or smokers in any of their properties. It's the norm. Also due to my own allergies it just makes things easier. I may move back into the property at some point.

It's your house, the policies of the letting agent are irrelevant, you get to decide what is and isn't permissible.

And as you aren't living there now, and they sound like good tenants it would be daft to evict them over something which can easily be remedied when they move out.

EssexGurl · 08/01/2020 08:30

We rent out a flat and have the same clause re no pets. We use a managing agency and during a mid term inspection a dog suddenly appeared on the report. After lots of soul searching we agreed to the dog. Good tenant - been there 4 years+ so we’ve had a constant income stream. He can be a bit of a diva but keeps the flat immaculate.

Pick your battles - are they good tenants? Is the flat in good condition? How easy would it be to find new tenants? Can you afford a void period?

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 08/01/2020 08:30

Theyre not good tennants if theyre explicitly doing things forbidden in the house are they?

Original poster
Aprilcherry04 · 08/01/2020 08:31

FFS life as a tenant is a miserable existence**
Yeah I know that - that's why I'm not too bothered by the tv. But the contract does say they have to ask for permission- which I would have granted.

OP posts:
Deathraystare · 08/01/2020 08:31

Not just ? damage to property but some charmers leave their animals there when they leave.

A rather large percentage of animals in shelters are there because landlords found out about the cat/dog etc.

Shmithecat2 · 08/01/2020 08:32

@Aprilcherry04

But the contract does say they have to ask for permission- which I would have granted

So what's the problem?

Original poster
Aprilcherry04 · 08/01/2020 08:33

The cars are the problem........

OP posts:
SimonJT · 08/01/2020 08:34

If your property is England/Wales a no pet clause would be considered unfair, tenants are also able to make minor changes e.g putting things on the wall as long as they restore upon leaving the property.

I don’t know why people are saying don’t renew, that is not how rental contracts work in England/Wales, after the minimum term it becomes a rolling monthly contract.

Go ahead and serve notice, but there are only two things that can end a rental agreement in England/Wales, the tenant themselves or a court.

SoupDragon · 08/01/2020 08:35

Most people would make use of a tv bracket after they’ve gone.

They won't be leaving the bracket though, just the holes!

SaskiaRembrandt · 08/01/2020 08:36

They won't be leaving the bracket though, just the holes!

But the holes can be filled in, and the wall made good. They haven't built a conservatory and knocked through to make ground floor open plan.

UniversalAunt · 08/01/2020 08:38

Cat allergy is non-negotiable.
The allergens will be everywhere including any upholstered furnitures.

A deep clean will not reliably remove the allergen particles.

So for the OP, the soft furnishings & furniture may well be a write-off for her own use.

I love cats, they love me BUT any contact brings on strong allergic response - even from historic presence.

QuizzlyBear · 08/01/2020 08:38

If you have landlords insurance for your mortgage, it may be invalidated by the presence of pets. We had this problem and luckily found out about it before we had to make a claim, though they left behind a lot of damage to the furnishings...

UniversalAunt · 08/01/2020 08:39

... & write-off for use by future tenants.

Damntheman · 08/01/2020 08:39

Most of you seem to be missing the point. The TV isn't the problem, the cats are the problem.

OP has clearly stated they have a cat allergy and may want to live in the property in the future. Cat dander can be really hard to clean out! And I say this as a cat lover who has two cats herself. They should have asked.

I'm sorry, OP this is terrible. Is it possible to request that the tennants set aside the money for a full professional deep clean upon vacating to attempt to get the cat dander out?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 08/01/2020 08:39

I currently have lodgers in a 3 bedroom semi. They seem nice enough and the neighbours say they are well behaved. As you have now calrified, they are tenants!

You need to make sure you nunderstand the new Tenant Fee Ban. Most of it didn't apply to your tenants if they moved in before June last year. But will after June this year. So... do your homework.

And you REALLY do need to as Contract needs renewed in a month. Aibu not to renew? shows that you haven't a clue!

a) The contract does NOT need to be renewed. It could just roll on. And you will have to bear ALL costs of the renewal - see Tenant Fee Ban!

b) You have missed the deadline for evicting them at the end of the tenancy, you'll need to issue the correct paperwork at the end of the tenancy

c) TV bracket? Well, they have't left yet, so you have not incurred any damage or costs. Even if a clerk did an inspection for you it probably woyldn't be noted as it isn't unusual and isn't damage.... yet! (I am a clerk, I do this every day!)

d) Cats.... I can only refer you back to the law. It is usually not enforceable to have a blanket No Pet Policy! Mainly because absent damage it is deemed to be an unreasonable blanket ban. That and whilst it is a breach of the agreement it is, absent damage, often considered to be too smnall a breach to be cause for eviction or any restitution.

So, decide what you rally want. If they are good tenants, pay on time, keep the place tidy and don't piss off the neighbours then why would you evict them for a telly bracket and cats?

If you want to move back in just get a very good end of tenancy clean before you do!

Equanimitas · 08/01/2020 08:40

Think carefully about the pros and cons. On the one hand, you have good tenants with pets. On the other hand, they're breaking the contract and could get rid of them - but you might have to get a court order, there may be a gap before you can get new tenants in, and new tenants will be an unknown quantity.

I don't really understand the relevance of your allergies, if you don't live there.

SaskiaRembrandt · 08/01/2020 08:41

Further to SimonJT's post:

Many landlords are unhappy about tenants keeping pets and refuse to allow them as a matter of course. Some of those landlords (without taking legal advice) amend the clause in their tenancy agreement to remove the wording providing for the tenant to apply for permission (which should not be unreasonably refused).

If your landlord has done this, then this renders the clause unfair and unenforceable – meaning that there is nothing, in the tenancy agreement, to stop you keeping a pet.

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

dognamedspot · 08/01/2020 08:42

You're the owner of the property. Attend the inspection with the letting agent. Then make a decision. If it's clear that the cats are causing damage, or a persistent smell, then give notice. If they are well cared for and no impact then, as a landlord, I'd say don't. Your next tenants could be absolute scumbags and cost you thousands (voice of bitter experience).
Re the telly - you need something added to the agreement that they make good any damage to walls when they leave and if not the cost will be deducted from their deposit. And a note in a letter when they sign the next agreement reminding them of the requirement to ask for permission before having pets or drilling holes.
If you decide to move back in at some point just bring in a professional company to do a proper deep clean. I'd want to do that regardless of cats or not.
But if they are generally reliable tenants keep them is my advice.

ZebrasAreHorsesInPyjamas · 08/01/2020 08:44

The thing is, the cats are already there so any allergens etc are already there too, so no matter when they move out the place will need a deep clean. I understand the annoyance, but if you were planning on renewing if it hadn't been for the cats then you obviously aren't planning on moving in anytime soon. If they are otherwise good tenants, i would speak to them and ask why they brought in cats without permission and then explain to them that when they do move out they will have to pay extra for a specialist clean. Then put that in the contract.

Good tenants are hard to come by, I would think carefully about not renewing. (If that's even possible due to what SimonJT is saying).