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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why unfurnished rental properties still don't allow pets?

238 replies

Coffeebiscuitsrepeat · 15/07/2020 12:26

My sister is having terrible trouble trying to find a place to rent with her two cats. I can understand furnished properties due to scratching sofa etc., but why do so many unfurnished places not allow pets? The one she was viewing didn't even have carpet, just laminate flooring!

OP posts:
Saoirse7 · 15/07/2020 12:40

Animals can smell, we moved into a house after renters with a dog. We could still smell dog 6 months later. We also noticed gnawed skirting boards/architraves etc.

0blio · 15/07/2020 12:43

I love cats and dogs but pets can annoy neighbours as well as causing damage.

IveSeenThings · 15/07/2020 12:43

When i was small we lived in a house where the previous owner had had cats (3 of them).
One room always smelled no matter what my parents did. Carpet replaced, new paint, etc. Urine seeps into floorboards and skirting boards Envy

MyOwnSummer · 15/07/2020 12:46

I refused an applicant because her "mostly" house trained large dog was a deal breaker for me. I had just paid to put new carpets in - no bloody chance was I paying to replace them. She brought the dog to the viewing and it ran around like a loony, ignoring her.

She suggested I rip out the brand new decent quality carpets and replace with cheap laminate, which is NOT dog wee proof either.

Fuck that noise, no way.

Dixiechickonhols · 15/07/2020 12:47

Dog not cat but house is more worn due to him. I really notice it. Mud on wall in kitchen from shaking (I do towel dry him) he jumps up at window and scratches wall. Scratches at french door to tell me to let him out. Fur in carpet (I hoover more than ever) he’s an older rescue dog so I suppose you could train a younger dog better but some extra wear and tear inevitable.

mbosnz · 15/07/2020 12:47

Can she get a pet reference from her current landlord? Offer to pay a pet bond, don't wait for them to suggest it. Guarantee in writing to make good any damage that the animals do.

I sympathise, it's the hardest thing about renting, and it's been a massive adjustment for us. For the property we're in, when we came and viewed it, we made a very good impression on the letting agent, who was very keen to let to us. I am not working, am very house proud, and also asked with a smile if the property owner would be amenable to one cat. Her face fell. So did mine, as I said to her, having a cat was a deal breaker for us. Ten minutes later, it wasn't a problem. The owner said, he'd have to think about a dog though.

Two years later, we're looking to renew for another four years. Property owner and letting agent ecstatic. Now they're mulling over a dog, lol.

mindutopia · 15/07/2020 12:50

I would imagine it just ruins their place, which is fair enough. I've gone to view some properties in the past who had pets and they were absolutely disgusting. I can't imagine that smell and all that hair comes out easily.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2020 12:52

If she had a baby, it would probably make far more mess... yet that wouldn't be a problem!

My pets have done far more damage than my children.

I do agree that an extra deposit to cover pet damage and a fee to cover a proper deep clean (in case of allergies etc) should be a thing.

Original poster
Coffeebiscuitsrepeat · 15/07/2020 12:53

Thanks all for your replies - it's really useful to see both sides of the story.

Just to clarify, she is going through a divorce and has sold her house, so is looking to rent for 6 months until some money comes through to put a deposit down on a place to buy. So no previous landlord to vouch for her!

OP posts:
labyrinthloafer · 15/07/2020 12:55

@SimonJT

Because some landlords are petty control freaks. The no pets clause is considered an unfair clause in England/Wales.
I agree with this. But also it is smell and damage - have they tried offering an increased deposit (if that could be managed)?
LividLaughLovely · 15/07/2020 12:55

I’m not a landlord but I am allergic to cats and dogs so wouldn’t want them in my house.

Plus, they smell and the smell permeates.

I’d never be able to let my house out and ever move back in.

flooredbored · 15/07/2020 12:56

To be honest if it is only a short term tenancy that would be even less attractive to most landlords I would have thought.

Original poster
Coffeebiscuitsrepeat · 15/07/2020 12:57

PS I totally accept if people think I'm being unreasonable. I think my thoughts are emotionally led because my dear sis has gone through a really rough patch, and I just want her to have a fresh start, avec her lovely cats!

OP posts:
burdog · 15/07/2020 12:58

Damaging walls is one problem. But then when we were renting a flat the magnolia walls were trashed with the usual dings, marks and scratches that come from normal wear and tear over 4 years living in one place and the flat needed a paint.

SockYarn · 15/07/2020 12:59

Because they piss all over the floor and claw the door frames?

And because people like me are very allergic to cats and wouldn't be able to go into a property where a cat had been previously.

WaffleCash · 15/07/2020 13:00

Our student let was refurbished from a property where there were previously a number of cats, new carpets throughout upstairs, hard flooring downstairs. We were the first students in there after refurbishment. The smell used to come up from the floorboards, it was impossible to get rid of, you could only try and overpower it.

PAND0RA · 15/07/2020 13:02

A long time ago we rented a place and asked getting a cat- it was allowed but the requirements upon vacating were quite a lot including paying to replace carpeting and any damage to walls etc. Fair enough really, but We decided the risk and potential costs wasn't worth a pet at that time

So that’s what you decided as a tenant. Landlords make The same choice. It’s not worth the risk to let it to someone with pets when there’s good pet free tenants with excellent references queueing up behind you.

VanCleefArpels · 15/07/2020 13:04

If it’s a leasehold property the Head Lease might prohibit pets except caged pets. The rental properties I own have this provision. The buildings are really not suitable for cats or dogs.

KittyDee · 15/07/2020 13:04

Some leases don’t allow pets in the building so could be that.

If I was your sister I would approach the landlord/ agent and explain her situation. It could be that the no pets thing is a default position and they may consider it if they are assured that the flat will be kept clean/ be quiet etc

HarrietOh · 15/07/2020 13:05

It's strange reading the responses. My cat doesn't pee everywhere, doesn't scratch doors/sideboards etc (had cats all my life and never had a cat scratch away at wood) - I would say cat hair everywhere yes. So maybe needing to replace carpets or pay for professional clean to rid of all cat fur?

piscean10 · 15/07/2020 13:08

You can walk into a house and tell if a cat lives there. There is that stink that I think some owners become used to and cant smell it.
I have a no pet rule as well.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/07/2020 13:08

deposits have been capped at five weeks and what IS illegal is to charge extra deposit or extra fees to allow for the damage that a pet may cause. So there's the good reason. Complain to Shelter, their idea

This ^^

I often wonder why some cheer so loudly at the latest "tenants' victory" but fail to think of the consequences

louloubelx · 15/07/2020 13:09

We were allowed pets by negotiation even though the ad said no pets, we thought if you don’t ask, you don’t get. We were allowed our dog there but had to agree to an end of tennancy carpet wash and flea treatment at our cost at the end of it :)

DobbyTheHouseElk · 15/07/2020 13:09

Because of the mess they COULD make. Carpets, floor boards and walls covered in shit and the tenant has no responsibility to replace it when they move out.

Unfortunately a LL has no way of knowing of the animal is house trained or not. I say that as an animal lover and LL.

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 13:09

@piscean10

You can walk into a house and tell if a cat lives there. There is that stink that I think some owners become used to and cant smell it. I have a no pet rule as well.
This is what my last landlord said, yet he hadn’t noticed in almost three years of inspections that I had a cat.