To expect to find a short term let with a dog and three cats?

[blackkitty1234]

Help! We sold our house but it looks like our new house may fall through due to seller pulling out. It looks like we may have to find temporary a accommodation while we look for a new house. I am in my third trimester of pregnancy, we have a dog and three cats. I feel like we are screwed. Any advice or suggestions welcome?

Board the pets with friends or family if you can; other wise contact boarding kennels.

Email everybody you ever knew asking if they have a vacant property you could borrow, will pay rent of course.

Ask your estate agent if he can help.

Put the furniture into storage.

It’s very very hard to get a decent rented place in Scotland right now, even without pets.

Your best bet is to look for a property that’s a bit run down and in a rural area. If it’s been on the market for some time they might be willing to run the risk.

You need to understand that this isn't a personal judgement on you or your pets. You are being penalised because some tenants who are pet owners do not take care of the property or it’s surroundings and they annoy the neighbours.

And even those who do take care of their pets create more wear and tear and cleaning costs. Landlords are not allowed to charge a higher deposit so why would they take the risk ?

Like so things that are brought in supposedly to help tenants, they actually penalise many of them.

Whereabouts in Scotland

first suggestion would be to actually ask your local estate agents.

@S00LA

It’s very very hard to get a decent rented place in Scotland right now, even without pets.

Your best bet is to look for a property that’s a bit run down and in a rural area. If it’s been on the market for some time they might be willing to run the risk.

You need to understand that this isn't a personal judgement on you or your pets. You are being penalised because some tenants who are pet owners do not take care of the property or it’s surroundings and they annoy the neighbours.

And even those who do take care of their pets create more wear and tear and cleaning costs. Landlords are not allowed to charge a higher deposit so why would they take the risk ?

Like so things that are brought in supposedly to help tenants, they actually penalise many of them.

I understand it’s not personal. But I still feel like we’re screwed. Total cost of cattery and kennel would be fifty pound a night so 1,400 a month. We will need to either find something that will accept the animals or try asking friends for help. Away to look at air bnb.. Stressed 😕

In case you missed my comment earlier, there are animal rescue charities who can organise temporary foster care.

That’s a horrible situation to find yourself in, poor you.

I’d be tempted to delay the sale or at worst, last case scenario pull out. I couldn’t have my fur babies traumatised by bunging them in a pet hotel for unknown months.

You could be stuck for months and months, the longer you’re homeless the more desperate you’ll become. Don’t buy a house in haste.

I think the idea of negotiating a deal for a holiday let sounds like a good idea. But you'd also have to pay for your own furniture to go into storage.
From a landlords pov you're not a desirable tenant. It's short term, they don't know if you will let your pets damage the house. They might lose money overall by renting to you.
House buying is stressful enough, pregnant with pets must be a nightmare!

I'd second temporary foster care.

There is a 'Pets Allowed' filter function on Zoopla but not on Rightmove. Also check Openrent as there are some properties on there which aren't on Zoopla/Rightmove.

Try a holiday let

There are numerous agencies in Scotland that specialise in holiday lets. Due to restrictions many owners have no lets and have lost money. With luck some might be willing to take a winter short let. I'd contact those agencies and explain the situation, see if they can help.

@2bazookas

There are numerous agencies in Scotland that specialise in holiday lets. Due to restrictions many owners have no lets and have lost money. With luck some might be willing to take a winter short let. I'd contact those agencies and explain the situation, see if they can help.

Thanks. I think they may be our best bet!

I agree that air bnb is a good idea. There are lots of cottages that can’t take anyone from out of their area so have many cancellations.

Rural places are more likely to accept pets.

Look at openRent who have an advanced search facility for pets. Also Lets With pets.

Tempted to just rent somewhere and not say anything. What’s the worst that could happen if they find out?

Agree with PP about finding properties that have been empty for a while and a bit run down. We had this dilemma, OP, in Scotland this year. We found a Manse that was desperate for tenants as I think many churches in Scotland are having problems getting ministers so are renting out their manses ( which are always a bit tatty but good enough short term).
Roughly where about are you looking OP? The manse we vacated last month is now available.

Highly unlikely. I’d never rent to anyone with pets as the dog smell seeps into the carpet and walls, and cats shed constantly and rub their chins on everything, leaving greasy marks. Then there’s the potential complaints from neighbours about dog running around or barking or you opening the door a lot to let cats in and out.

I think your only realistic options are to board the animals or have them adopted, since you need to find somewhere in a hurry and you’re also heavily pregnant with no idea how long you’ll need to rent for.

@RattleOfBars

Highly unlikely. I’d never rent to anyone with pets as the dog smell seeps into the carpet and walls, and cats shed constantly and rub their chins on everything, leaving greasy marks. Then there’s the potential complaints from neighbours about dog running around or barking or you opening the door a lot to let cats in and out.

I think your only realistic options are to board the animals or have them adopted, since you need to find somewhere in a hurry and you’re also heavily pregnant with no idea how long you’ll need to rent for.

Having them adopted is not an option.

talk to your estate agent that you are selling through and tell them you are going to have to pull out the sale and stay put if you can't find a rental. You'd be amazed what they can done when their commission is in jeopardy

Tempted to just rent somewhere and not say anything. What’s the worst that could happen if they find out?

That’s a very very bad idea, and cheeky too. Imagine you have a lovely rental and someone sneaks pets into it and leaves it all smelly, grubby and hairy.

They could cancel your contract with no notice, leaving you street homeless and with no option but to present as NFA to your local council. Who definitely won’t take pets.

You’ll never be able to rent again as they’ll give you bad references.

And they may charge an extortionate bill for ‘damage’ eg pet smell and marks on the walls/furniture/scratched carpets.

How on earth could you hide a staffie and 2 cats unless you’re somewhere so rural you have no neighbours. Don’t you take dog for walks? Will people not see cats on windowsills (or digging in their flowerbeds).

Blackkitty1234, I have sent you a message.

Having them adopted is not an option

It may be your only option if you’re determined to go through with the sale and renting. Unless you’re prepared to lose your buyers over the delay?

What if the animals don’t take to your new baby or become aggressive to him/her, is having pets adopted still off the cards?

@RattleOfBars

Tempted to just rent somewhere and not say anything. What’s the worst that could happen if they find out?

That’s a very very bad idea, and cheeky too. Imagine you have a lovely rental and someone sneaks pets into it and leaves it all smelly, grubby and hairy.

They could cancel your contract with no notice, leaving you street homeless and with no option but to present as NFA to your local council. Who definitely won’t take pets.

You’ll never be able to rent again as they’ll give you bad references.

And they may charge an extortionate bill for ‘damage’ eg pet smell and marks on the walls/furniture/scratched carpets.

How on earth could you hide a staffie and 2 cats unless you’re somewhere so rural you have no neighbours. Don’t you take dog for walks? Will people not see cats on windowsills (or digging in their flowerbeds).

I know but we are desperate. My cats don’t go outside. We have a secure catio where are are at the moment, there’s no way I would let them roam the neighbourhood. Too many potential dangers.

@RattleOfBars

Having them adopted is not an option

It may be your only option if you’re determined to go through with the sale and renting. Unless you’re prepared to lose your buyers over the delay?

What if the animals don’t take to your new baby or become aggressive to him/her, is having pets adopted still off the cards?

You’re getting way off topic now. This thread is about my housing situation.