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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To lie about having pets to potential Landlord

319 replies

RottieMum80 · 25/06/2021 18:34

So we’ve been stuck on the renting wheel for years and have been in our current home, which we love very much, for 2 1/2 yrs. We took this property under the understanding of a ‘long term’ let but we’ve just found out our Landlord wants to take advantage of the current RIDICULOUS house prices and are selling it from under us. We’re gutted, especially our 9yr old daughter who has friends all along our road that she plays with daily and her school is just a 10 minute walk away. Now we are looking around for an alternative property in our town (where we have family, friends, childcare, daughter’s school etc) and there’s literally NOTHING around. Not even anything unsuitable, just nothing. Started to panic obviously, then low and behold our neighbours 3 doors down told us they’re handing their notice in for their place as they’ve bought a house! It’s identical to our current home and means barely anything has to change. However, we have a large dog and a cat. This Landlady doesn’t allow pets. Now I’ve always left rental properties in perfect (often better!) condition, I’m very clean, tidy and house proud and our pets are completely house trained and never cause any damage.
So bearing in mind we are pretty screwed here with impending homelessness......AIBU to lie about having any pets?

OP posts:
MoonlightFancy · 27/06/2021 22:28

Not to be a dick but as a homeowner who scrimped and saved with my now husband all through our late teens / twenties and missed out on partying, holidays together, etc to save up to buy, the comments about ‘bank of mum and dad’ or inheritances rubs me the wrong way.

MadMadMadamMim · 27/06/2021 22:37

@MoonlightFancy

Not to be a dick but as a homeowner who scrimped and saved with my now husband all through our late teens / twenties and missed out on partying, holidays together, etc to save up to buy, the comments about ‘bank of mum and dad’ or inheritances rubs me the wrong way.
Me too. I don't know where all these home owners with rich, dead parents come from. I don't know anyone who had money from anyone to help with a deposit. My 27 year old son has just bought his first house with his partner. They both work in professional careers and have lived in poverty for four years, purely on his salary and saved every penny of hers for a deposit.

That's how they've just bought a house.

RottieMum80 · 27/06/2021 22:42

@MoonlightFancy

Not to be a dick but as a homeowner who scrimped and saved with my now husband all through our late teens / twenties and missed out on partying, holidays together, etc to save up to buy, the comments about ‘bank of mum and dad’ or inheritances rubs me the wrong way.
I appreciate that and apologise if I offended you. My parents did exactly the same however back then, that was achievable. My point is, you were both in a position, together, to do that. Could you have if you were single? As I say, going from experience of my generation and those younger, we are faced with ludicrous house prices and salaries that don’t inflate at the same rate and the only way my friends have managed to buy their homes has been through parents’ help or from receiving an inheritance - otherwise they’d all be in the same position as me. I work hard and I don’t have many luxuries in my life such as lavish holidays etc. but yes, I have my pets. Because I get huge enjoyment from them as do my children and I think having pets when growing up is important. We are incredibly responsible pet owners in every way, apart from having the privilege of having them in our OWN home. Again I apologise for offending you x
OP posts:
GreyhoundG1rl · 27/06/2021 22:44

I hope you get sorted soon, op. I genuinely wish you well.

jackstini · 27/06/2021 22:54

Is that the definite stance of the landlord or are they just using a standard agency that automatically puts those clauses in?

I am a landlord and it drives me potty that every standard tenancy agreement states no pets, no decorating, no picture hanging etc.

You have to specifically amend them to allow this, and many landlords don't even realise all the conditions in a standard ASTA

I do amend mine in line with what I think tenants need to feel it's their home, and have much longer tenancies because of it (average 6/7 years, longest so far 14 years)
I amend all mine

Could you approach her with a guaranteed minimum period, 5 years? Plus confirmation of pet damage repair?

Good luck

RottieMum80 · 27/06/2021 23:02

That’s very kind, thank you

OP posts:
RottieMum80 · 27/06/2021 23:03

@GreyhoundG1rl

I hope you get sorted soon, op. I genuinely wish you well.
That’s very kind, thank you.
OP posts:
RottieMum80 · 27/06/2021 23:06

@jackstini

Is that the definite stance of the landlord or are they just using a standard agency that automatically puts those clauses in?

I am a landlord and it drives me potty that every standard tenancy agreement states no pets, no decorating, no picture hanging etc.

You have to specifically amend them to allow this, and many landlords don't even realise all the conditions in a standard ASTA

I do amend mine in line with what I think tenants need to feel it's their home, and have much longer tenancies because of it (average 6/7 years, longest so far 14 years)
I amend all mine

Could you approach her with a guaranteed minimum period, 5 years? Plus confirmation of pet damage repair?

Good luck

Thank you, you sound like one of the good ones! Smile It’s currently not with an agency, I’ll be speaking to her privately but I know last time this particular property was advertised it was “no pets”. I haven’t asked her yet and am too scared to! I just wish I could be honest and know she’ll be ok with it! Confused
OP posts:
CastawayQueen · 27/06/2021 23:23

@RottieMum80 nobody is entitled to a pet. They’re a privilege. Unlike food and water.
Also presumably you could have a pet if you were flexible enough to rent elsewhere which you don’t want to. For very good reasons

CastawayQueen · 27/06/2021 23:23

But still it’s your choice

RottieMum80 · 27/06/2021 23:24

[quote CastawayQueen]**@RottieMum80* nobody is entitled* to a pet. They’re a privilege. Unlike food and water.
Also presumably you could have a pet if you were flexible enough to rent elsewhere which you don’t want to. For very good reasons[/quote]
Fair comment

OP posts:
Tealightsandd · 27/06/2021 23:33

[quote CastawayQueen]**@RottieMum80* nobody is entitled* to a pet. They’re a privilege. Unlike food and water.
Also presumably you could have a pet if you were flexible enough to rent elsewhere which you don’t want to. For very good reasons[/quote]
A lot of research has been done on the mental and physical health benefits of pet ownership. With an increased awareness of the importance of good health, should this benefit be a privilege confined only to home owners and some social housing tenants?

Good luck OP. I hope she's reasonable.

Does anyone know what's happening with the proposed new law? Hope it hasn't fallen by the wayside.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-standard-tenancy-agreement-to-help-renters-with-well-behaved-pets

Skysblue · 27/06/2021 23:34

Good luck OP!

I think if you don’t tell them, they’ll find out and it’ll be super stressful in the meantime.

All estate agents really care about is money. Offer to pay a higher rent (to take into account that you have pets and this house is on your home road), or give a higher deposit, etc. Ask at what price they would be happy to rent to you. Then negotiate. Remind them you are houseproud local family tenants looking for a long term rental. Offer to pay for the property to be fumigated when you leave. Ask what the landlord’s worry is and how you can make them happy and reassure them. Usually the answer is money.

Good luck xx

FlyingSoHigh · 27/06/2021 23:59

It's hard to rent in your area and you want a long term rental. So you're proposing to start off the relationship with the landlord of the only suitable house by lying to them. How could it possibly go wrong?!

charlotteself · 28/06/2021 07:09

I wonder how the new law will work in practice though. LL's will still be able to choose which renter to go with and will just pick someone without a pet should they so wish.

It helps people who request a new pet once they'll already living there but doesn't help those who need to move and already have a pet.

SapatSea · 28/06/2021 10:29

It's not a new law though - it is the government's recommended tenancy agreement (New Model Tenancy Agreement)/ LL's and agents don't have to use it.

CastawayQueen · 28/06/2021 12:08

@Tealightsandd I actually don’t think the default position should be preventing people with pets from renting. Children can cause more damage than pets as well. In fact having the default agreement changed is a good thing.

However knowingly getting a pet with the current situation of difficult rentals is selfish. Again - no matter what health benefits etc pets bring they are living things. Their welfare outweighs any benefits they may bring. The exception Is service dogs.

The other issue is that renting in the U.K. is unequal depending on where you live - which is the cause of the OP’s problem. Not the pet. If an area doesn’t have suitable houses then ANY reason (pets, self-employment, what have you) makes it hard to find a place as the LL doesn’t have to even reject you. They just give it to someone else. Even people who don’t have any ‘red flags’ can’t find houses in this case simply because someone else has gotten there first.
OP might not get this house anyway... So the issue is much bigger.

user1471538283 · 28/06/2021 12:19

I pay an additional £25 a month for both of our cats. During the viewing I offered "pet rent". I repeatedly made the point that our cats are older, tame and trained. Agents cannot charge a larger deposit for pets so I thought this was the best compromise.

It did limit the market because lots of landlords didn't want pets at all.

Dragongirl10 · 28/06/2021 12:40

Op your entitlement to have all the things YOU want is astounding.

Surely you can see that a dog can cause massive damage and the LL doesn't know that your dog is well trained and well behaved?

I have been a LL for a long time, (no, l did not inherit any money, was not gifted any money and have no trust fund)

I have seen the most appalling destruction by people and pets. l have been close to bankruptcy twice,in my younger days by people leaving destruction and unpaid rent.
Yet all my properties have always had the correct checks, been kept in excellent condition, all laws and regulations followed, tradesmen called out at all hours to fix any small thing that may go wrong regardless of cost. It is not an easy job.

That is your problem not all people treat properties well. Your anger against your LL is misplaced and unfair.

My advice, honesty is the best policy, offer in writing to replace and repair fully any possible damage, show your current home, get references from your current LL, state where your dog will be all day, where he will be at night, what happens when you go away. Pay an insurance policy if need be.
Most importantly put yourself in the LL shoes for a moment and really think about why this situation occurs and what you can do about it.

I have allowed pets when potential tenants have done the above, one couple agreed at the beginning, to replace the living room carpet at the end of their 3 year tenancy, so they could have their two small dogs.
Another put a hefty deposit down which l was happy to return a year later when no damage was done. But l have also had people who let unpermitted dogs foul a whole flat, chew doors etc and it has cost many thousands to put right.

Sadly l would allow your dog under the circumstances you say but would not want a tenant with your attitude.

cyclingmad · 28/06/2021 13:15

As a LL if I found out my tenant had lied they would be served notice. Unbelievable you think itsnokay to lie. The housing and rental situation is not that LLs fault.

looptheloopinahulahoop · 28/06/2021 14:04

I am not exactly a fan of the BTL crowd, but as a landlord you are entitled to decide whether you want animals in your property or not. And if you are a tenant who wants animals, you find a house where the landlord does allow animals.

However, It is a bit stupid that letting agencies just put these clauses in without asking though, or just assume the landlord will say no to a specific request without asking, It should be a standard thing to check on an individual basis, as a landlord might say no cats because of scratching but be perfectly happy to allow guinea pigs.

looptheloopinahulahoop · 28/06/2021 14:05

Children can cause more damage than pets as well

Hmm not sure about that. Only if you go away and leave older teens in charge...

MachiaNelly · 28/06/2021 15:08

Am I NEVER entitled to enjoy a pet in my life?

Hang on, loads of people might like a dog but never be able to have one, for various reasons. My dh and I own our house, (with no help from anyone) and he always hankered after a dog. I wouldn't tolerate a dog in the house as he was away working most of the time anyway. It would have been all down to me. He doesn't want one now thank goodness. I know people with allergies who can't realistically keep any furry animal without discomfort. My close friend who rents had 2 cats she had to rehome because her new place wouldn't allow them.
I've known several people throughout my life who'd have liked a dog but being out at work all day made it impossible. Also one young friend got two dogs anyway and had to rehome them because of their all day barking. It's life. You have to live within the limitations of your situation. Everybody has.

Bluesheep8 · 28/06/2021 15:13

We offered a bigger deposit and signed an agreement to have the property professionally cleaned when we left.

bigbaggyeyes · 28/06/2021 15:16

Can you get your current landlord to write a specific reference re the condition of the house and mention pets
Also offer a larger deposit and agree to pay a professional cleaning company when you leave?