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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Passingahat · 25/06/2021 19:56

@RottieMum80

If you have no one that can take them, then you will also have no one that can take them when you have any form of inspection, landlord visit, annual electric and gas checks and any work done in the house (in our 2 years at this house we've had all the regular stuff but also everything from new fencing, leaking sinks, insulation, and new oven)

You need somewhere they could go for that sort of stuff

You also need to consider if you got caught out what would happen. If your landlord gives you a short deadline , you don't want to be struggling for rescue space at short notice. If you have no back up you are in a situation where not only could the pets wait for you to find somewhere else, but you also may not be able to find the rescue space you'd want

flippertygibbit · 25/06/2021 19:57

@Veterinari

There's lot of bollocks on this thread No a landlord cannot just evict you for having a pet even if it is in breach of contract. In fact blanket bans on pets are not legally enforceable

reliablehomes.co.uk/what-to-do-if-your-tenant-has-a-pet-without-permission/

Having said that @RottieMum80 deception is unlikely to leads to a positive longterm rental relationship.

If the landlord is local I'd agree with the suggestion to invite her round to your current house. Emphasise your desire for a longterm let and offer additional cleaning on departure.

If the landlord is absent/abroad or similar, I'd be more inclined to smuggle the pets in. Once the paperwork is signed it's very tricky to be evicted on the basis of pets.

Did you actually read the article you've linked to?

I am highly allergic to cats so I would have to refuse a tenant a cat and I would be permitted to.

Veterinari · 25/06/2021 19:59

@flippertygibbit
Please explain to me how banning pets on the grounds of you being highly allergic is equivalent to a blanket ban on pets for no reason?

I suggest you reread the article I linked to

viques · 25/06/2021 19:59

You need to sell yourselves.

Continuity of a tenancy ( so no loss of income for the ll, )

Say you are not worried about landlord redecorating ( but check house condition with your friend)

Potential for long term, reliable tenant with excellent references ( got them from your landlord)

Willing to show landlord round current property to prove that you can look after a property.

You have to show the landlord that the advantages of you being a reliable,responsible, long term, well referenced tenant far outweigh the prejudice they have against pets.

Good luck.

Goneroundthetwist · 25/06/2021 20:02

I’m a landlord, I’d rather have pets than some tenants... much better behaved and less messy......most say no initially but if they see a good tenant with a good credit history will agree.

BelterDelta · 25/06/2021 20:06

I have an investment flat, have had it for 20 years. For the first time ever, I evicted a tenant last month because they tried to hide a dog.

I’m not going to tell you how we discovered it.

We had no choice but to evict: The freeholder threatened ME with court because it was my name on the property deeds. It would be ME that would be blacklisted, ME that would be financially penalised. It would be ME that would have to sell.

I inherited that property and it is there for my child, it is not there for you to abuse.

Do not lie, you WILL be found out no matter how clever you think you are at deceiving. Technology and people when they come together work incredibly well.

Veterinari · 25/06/2021 20:08

@BelterDelta

I have an investment flat, have had it for 20 years. For the first time ever, I evicted a tenant last month because they tried to hide a dog.

I’m not going to tell you how we discovered it.

We had no choice but to evict: The freeholder threatened ME with court because it was my name on the property deeds. It would be ME that would be blacklisted, ME that would be financially penalised. It would be ME that would have to sell.

I inherited that property and it is there for my child, it is not there for you to abuse.

Do not lie, you WILL be found out no matter how clever you think you are at deceiving. Technology and people when they come together work incredibly well.

That's understandable. Such restrictive covenants rarely apply to houses though
Ohhyeahright · 25/06/2021 20:13

I wouldn’t want animals in my rental, so gently, I say yabu

DoubleNegativePanda · 25/06/2021 20:16

They'll find out and you'll have dug yourself a deeper hole.

When I moved into the house I rent (been here 8 years) they initially said no pets at all, no exceptions. I really wanted the house as it's on the same road as my best friend, so had the new landlord speak with my former one. I also offered to pay an additional deposit and a to pay $25/month more than they were asking.

I ended up moving in with no problems and they have never had a problem with my cats. I wouldn't lie, but I also wouldn't give up too easily!

Slippy78 · 25/06/2021 20:17

Isn't there a law now that means landlords can't stop you from having pets?
No. All that's happened is the government have altered the 'Model Tenancy Agreement' which landlords are under no obligation to use.

MrsFin · 25/06/2021 20:22

If you did that to me, I'd be furious.
It's not so much the damage, it's the smell, and the dog hairs that get everywhere, and that are really hard to get rid of.
Damage to house and garden too though, with subsequent arguments about paying for new carpets etc when you move out.
It's just not worth the hassle for the landlord.

Our property is inspected regularly by the management company we use. You can't hide your dog, plus all evidence, every time.

SengaMac · 25/06/2021 20:25

At least ask landlord if they say no then tell landlord you make alternate arrangements for pets as you still want property.

LL being able to see your current home and also able to find out that you are good neighbours should all be greatly in your favour.
She's likely to want to go with you rather than some random people who might turn up.

Have a plan for the pets, if she won't accept them. Definitely tell her about them.

Hill1991 · 25/06/2021 20:26

Don't lie, in my current property that I'm in now said no pets I asked the agent to go to the landlord and tell them that were interested but we have a house cat paid extra deposit for him and no problems. I've done that with all the houses I've rented since I've got him

rooarsome · 25/06/2021 20:27

Someone snuck a dog into my parent's house which they were temporarily renting out. The whole situation was a nightmare and it was so disrespectful. The neighbours phoned my Dad to tell him.

MrsFin · 25/06/2021 20:27

when we got the pets as we intended to be here some time, at least until we could potentially afford our own place

Do you think you might have been able to afford your own place sooner if you hadn't have got a very big dog while you were in rented accommodation? It must be pretty expensive to keep.

nellly · 25/06/2021 20:29

@3Britnee

Isn't there a law now that means landlords can't stop you from having pets?
I'm fairly sure it related to adding unfair charges and whacking up the deposits. Don't think they can force people to rent to families with pets
MilduraS · 25/06/2021 20:32

A friend of my DH had a blanket ban on pets at his rental property. He was contacted by a family with a dog and agreed to let them rent his house. They had a glowing reference from their landlord of 6 years and were only leaving because he had to sell his property. Their landlord said they had kept the house in good repair, reported the sort of issues that cause long term damage if left unchecked and had always paid on time without fail. DH's friend had previous tenants with no pets who had left the property in an absolute state after just a year so it was a done deal after that reference.

Twoforthree · 25/06/2021 20:34

If you explain about your dds friends etc then you may sway the ll. your love of the area and the connections would interest me as a LL. I’d have to balance that with a big dog. It very much depends on how you sell yourself.

Veterinari · 25/06/2021 20:34

@MrsFin

when we got the pets as we intended to be here some time, at least until we could potentially afford our own place

Do you think you might have been able to afford your own place sooner if you hadn't have got a very big dog while you were in rented accommodation? It must be pretty expensive to keep.

Yeah because people in rented accommodation should never spend money on anything other than absolute essentials....

I must've missed the bit where OP asked for budgeting advice

MrsW2603 · 25/06/2021 20:35

Don't lie. The stress it will cause is not worth it.

Why not approach the landlord directly and offer to rent the house at a higher rent to cover any potential damage the pets will cause?
Deposits are now capped so offering a higher deposit could be pointless.

You could also add a clause regarding additional cleaning at the end of the tenancy and offer the new landlord to speak to your current landlord personally to vouch for you.

If they rent with you directly they are saving a heafy Estate Agent fee, remind them of this!

BatFaceGirly · 25/06/2021 20:36

I wouldn't let my house to someone with a Rottweiler I'm afraid. A cat I'd probably be OK with if I knew about it. How 'certain' is this potential new house though? Is it just a chat with your neighbour at the moment and they've merely told you they plan to move out?

@Veterinari it may be a tenant's 'home' but it's the landlords property and they can sell / ask someone to leave whenever they want to. The OP can't stop her landlord from selling.

Bloodylovecheese · 25/06/2021 20:37

I'm a landlord and despite saying no pets I had complaints from neighbours about a dog running around the property I let. I called the tenants and said if they have a dog they need to get rid of it or leave. The noise stopped and they did leave. Upon inspection of the empty premises the smell of dog was so strong even though the place looked clean. I could smell 'wet dog' in all of the carpets.
Please don't lie, you'll be found out one way or another and lose trust with your landlord. Just to add we're not all money grabbing knobs.

Gettingbiggerandbigger · 25/06/2021 20:39

Currently letting our house out. We initially said no pets but have agreed to be relaxed on the rule as long as we are consulted first. Also they are not allowed on the carpets i.e upstairs. The whole downstairs has wooded & tiled floors so that’s fine. We do not want cats at all though. We plan on moving back in the house in a couple of years and have severe cat allergies, we will know if they have cats. Plus our neighbours will tell us as we still stay in touch with them.

Be upfront, if your only living a few doors down they may know you have pets anyway.

Pigsnacksatthewinchester · 25/06/2021 20:42

Husband and I intend to downsize on retirement, from large family house with gardens to upper storey flat with balcony. We have 3 cats and know we’ll probably have to pay a couple of years upfront and sign a hefty damage waiver. Happy to do so because they’re very clean.
Wouldn’t consider lying: don’t want to be unexpectedly homeless on a technicality.

(Bit unfair to say that the landlord is selling out from under you: it’s their property to do with as they wish, you know that when you rent. With no idea of their personal circumstances in this very unpredictable time, they may desperately need the money (doubt they would tell you, I wouldn’t).

Veterinari · 25/06/2021 20:47

@BatFaceGirly

I wouldn't let my house to someone with a Rottweiler I'm afraid. A cat I'd probably be OK with if I knew about it. How 'certain' is this potential new house though? Is it just a chat with your neighbour at the moment and they've merely told you they plan to move out?

@Veterinari it may be a tenant's 'home' but it's the landlords property and they can sell / ask someone to leave whenever they want to. The OP can't stop her landlord from selling.

I never suggested she couldConfused You seem to think I've made statements that I have not made. Might be worth re-reading