To want to complain and fight my estate agents/landlord?

[erised]

My husband and I have just secured a house to rent with Romans. We've paid a holding deposit and signed paperwork, even given notice on our current place. In the listing for the house it says 'Cats allowed' and this was confirmed multiple times by the person putting through our paperwork. I received a call today from the estate agents saying that there was a mix up and the landlord has said that we are not allowed our cats and it's either them or the house. Is there anything I can do to fight this? I'm so upset, this was our dream house and I'm also pregnant. Am I overreacting?

Isn’t there new laws that say they can’t stop pets anymore?

When you say 'signed paperwork,' do you mean you've signed a contract saying you can have cats?

I think if so, your LL morally ought to suck up their mistake (or put a rocket under the EA for their mistake, if that's what it is).

But, realistically, if they really don't want cats, I would think it will never feel secure - they'll just want you out asap. Surely better to find somewhere new, rather than risk it all dragging on for months or having to move again with a tiny baby?

You have a right to be angry, though, and obviously you should get all the deposit money back.

I can tell you the reason -previously LL could charge extra deposit for any damage a pet might do -now because of new laws they cannot & I am sorry but cats can damage carpets quite badly -so I assume that is why. the alternative you offer -& this is only a suggestion - to pay a little extra rent each month to cover this. ie new contract

What paperwork have you signed? If its the tenancy agreement, then you have a tenancy and there is bugger all the ll can do about it until the end of the fixed term (and only then if they serve the correct paperwork - a ll cannot end a tenancy, only the tenant or a court can).

We haven't signed a tenancy agreement. We offered to pay a fee to have our cats but they refused.

Oh this is awful I'm sorry I don't have any advice but I really feel for you

op they aren't allowed to accept an extra fee by new law - which is why I suggested asking about increasing your rent payment. You will find that many other LL are going to be the same because of this (thanks gov for yet another not well thought out law which RLA did for see was going to cause more problems for tenants than it solved ) (by the way this suggestion was made by an agent)

If you’ve signed a contract that says cats are allowed then you can hold them to it. If not then I’d pull out and expect to pay nothing and have all fees refunded.

If you haven't signed a contract either party can pull out for any reason. You should be able to get your deposit back.

No law saying you must allow pets yet. Its madness because tenants with pets are long term tenants and pets can do less damage than children....

Sorry, I have no advice for you, but I would be raising merry hell! You have given notice, FFS! It’s not like you can find something else at the drop of a hat. When did it become a thing that people are no longer accountable for their mistakes? Mistakes (which could have been avoided if someone had been doing their job properly) happen and it’s just shrug whoopsie, mistakes happen, you know 🙄 ok, I may have made some minor mistakes in my time but never something of the magnitude where someone is given the choice of potentially being homeless or giving up their pets. I hope that the person who made this mistake has grovelled an apology and is moving heaven and earth to get you accommodated elsewhere... As a fierce cat mom, I am outraged on your behalf.

I honestly don't know what to do at this point, who can I complain to? I understand that no tenancy was signed but this is so wrong. They made the mistake of putting 'Cats allowed' in the listing, plus confirming that multiple times and assuring us the house was secured enough that we could give notice. We now have 2 months to find somewhere...

Can you rescind your notice?

Ask them what properties you have that are suitable.

Just tell the agent that the cats have been rehomed.
Move into the house .
Does the agent need to know if your cats find their way back ?

@Fidgety31 very risky and could result in us getting thrown out due to breach of tenancy. The estate agents to quarterly property checks for this reason.

Your cats could go into a basket in your car whilst those heck’s are carried out ?

I’ve had places turned down because of my cat before (had him before I needed to rent). We just had to find somewhere else.
Don’t lie, it will always worry you. Last thing you want is to be kicked out just after having your baby because your landlord drove past and saw a cat in the window

This is why I hate agents, greedy, useless twats. Best of luck.

Landlady here. Ask your agent to ask the landlord to allow them to put a “pet clause” into the tenancy agreement for you; guaranteeing that you will make good any damage caused by the cat before you leave.

The Agents are appalling and incompetent. However I agree that you can't really move in if the owner doesn't want you there. No doubt he is angry too, thinking he had a tenancy in the bag. Owing to the new rules banning pet deposits many owners add extra rental a month if a pet is in the house. I'm a Landlord and I allow cats in my flats with a garden. I'm also a cat owner so am understanding and don't charge extra for them.

Just take them and hide all evidence at inspections. And be prepared to cover any damage that happens as a result of them being there.

To all the people saying hide your cats during inspections, non cat people (generally) can smell cats. As a landlord I never allow cats - cat urine (as some cats are not well trained) seeps into carpets, curtains and floorboards and the smell remains, even why people have “cleaned”. This means it’s more expensive to properly clean/decorate before I can let to the next tenants. I have allowed a long term tenant a dog, however they are an executive couple who had been living there two years and keep the home immaculate (and the dog is super cute) and so far no damage. But cats or other pets - absolutely no.

Hide your cats if you want, but expect to be evicted and have to pay for deep cleaning and any damage.

No the law allowing pets is not yet passed. I and my husband rent out a house and we allow pets. Agents generally reccomend against it. The law recently prevented asking for any additional fees for pets or children.. as it should.. an adequate security deposit will make good any damage to propertt.. renting unfurnished is best as no issues then. Pets enrich peoples lives in so many ways and prevent depression and mental health issues and it is inhumane that people who rent are so often excluded from having pets. That your new landlord is placing such a restriction on you is very wrong and unfair.. but if you now went ahead and rented that property you would never feel secure living there even if you gave up your cats.. so please dont. See if your current landlord will extend your notice period at least, if they dont already have a tenant they absolutely will do so. The new landlord to be has shown a lack of compassion and care that would make me wary of trusting them as a landlord to do what is required, and with a new baby on the way you absolutely need to feel safe and secure with where you are renting. Best of luck.

I keep seeing people on here saying about a law where you can have pets is this true? Will there be a law? Sounds too good to be true

@purpleme12 there will be no such law.

All the government are doing is changing the wording of the standard rental agreement contract in an effort to encourage landlords to let people keep pets.

Letting to tenants with pets will still ultimately be the landlords decision (as it should be).

You say 'our cats', how many do you have? Many landlord might be happy with one cat, not with 3 or more.

You could consider lying and moving in with your cats. Once your in, getting you out won't be so easy and would take time. You can look for another place during that time, but it will mean more money for you and the landlord who will clearly be very annoyed and likely to not do anything beyond the law, ie. if your boiler broke down, there could be many delays that are not their fault before it gets repaired...

Have you asked to speak to the Landlord directly?