To lie about having pets to potential Landlord

[RottieMum80]

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?

I am a LL and tenant (long story!)If I wasn't allergic to animals I would definitely be swayed by glowing references. I'm more worried about people trashing the place tbh

The government have capped the deposit amount to the equivalent of 5 weeks rent so those suggesting a higher deposit is not legal. You can pay a pet supplement, of say £5-10 per week which goes alongside your rent.

I would invite them to your current home to see the condition and meet the pets, get a reference off your current landlord re the pets and take it from there. If you lie, they will find out and then they’ll feel deceived by you and your relationship as a tenant and landlord will break down.

Think carefully before you decide how to proceed.

@sharkattack1972 sorry! I have a friend with a German shepherd, she's beautiful and loving. Unfortunately my sister has a neighbour with 2 who are outdoor dogs in a typical street. They launch themselves at a 6 foot fence while going crazy barking at everyone who goes by, it absolutely sounds like they will maul you if they get free ☹️ they're guard dogs for a reason.

@VictorianPrint

OP, I am a LL (and a dog owner) and I would very strongly advise you against lying. Your situation is very unfortunate, and I can see why PP have given the advice they have given - but the only thing in the universe that would persuade me to accept tenants with pets (especially a Rottweiler, assuming the clue is in the username) is if I had failed for months to let the property and were becoming desperate.

One reason LLs often don't want to let to people with pets is that they can cause allergy problems for the next tenants. Quite a lot of tenants will refuse to rent a property which has had resident pets. So it's just easier for LLs to say no to them.

Have you tried calling every lettings agent in your local area, and being upfront about the pets? Or is there anyone in your family who could take the pets for six months, thus enabling you to move to your neighbours' property even if just in the short term, while you look for something more suitable? I know it's not ideal, but you're in a bit of a bind whichever way you look at it.

I would also say that your anger with your own LL is slightly misplaced. Anyone who owns a house has a perfect right to sell it whenever they like and for whatever reason they like, so long as they give their tenants the relevant notice. You can't really be cross with them when they haven't actually done anything wrong.

Well you can't say no anymore as the New Tenancy agreement is in effect, something many people clearly aren't aware of. The default position is that LL's will accept pets, and you need a damn good reason not to, such as a great dane being in a one bed flat. We are a nation of animal lovers.

It may not be the OP's house but it would be her home.

So yeah, you need to read into the new act.

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

I didn't say that. Your putting words in my mouth.
I was suggesting that they might have been able to afford their own property sooner (and have all the pets they want), if they'd waited to buy a very big and expensive to keep dog until after they'd bought their own property.

Don't lie.
You cannot offer a larger deposit as the landlord would be breaking the law if they were to accept it. You can, however, offer to pay a higher rent.

Do get a reference from your current landlord which clearly states that your dog and cat are well behaved and have not caused any damage.
Do consent to a special clause in the AST that obligates you to have the house professionally cleaned, including steam cleaning of carpets and soft furnishings/curtains at the end of the tensncy.
Additional clause prohibiting you from getting additional pets/replacing deceased existing pets without written agreement from landlord.

Above all, talk to the landlord and demonstrate that you are honest, hard working, reliable et cetera. Establish a personal connection. If they want long-term tenants, assure them thapt this is also what you want.

@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.

Fucking hell I've heard it all now. Tenants are expected to live such a droll life until they reach the gold pot at the end of the rainbow of owning.

@MrsFin

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

I didn't say that. Your putting words in my mouth.
I was suggesting that they might have been able to afford their own property sooner (and have all the pets they want), if they'd waited to buy a very big and expensive to keep dog until after they'd bought their own property.

Yes I think it's pretty clear what you were implying. Despite the OP at no point asking for advice on that issue.

Still I guess you should never miss an opportunity to put the boot into a poster who is already struggling eh?

I'm landlord with a no pet requirement, but I tick YANBU. You need a place, you know you are very clean, you need to think of you and your family.

The reason why landlords don't want pet is because of the mess, smell and damage. If you are confident you dog won't do any, then you never know, they might done around the idea.

I would move in, say nothing and a few months later call them, come clean, explain the situation but assure them you will look after the property well. Offer that they come and do checks monthly if that would reassure them.

In the end, they won't be able to make you go until the end of the term.

It's no great, but you have nothing to lose and hope they fine around once they get to know you. Good luck.

We are tenants and have also been landlords for several years.
We rent with our pets and have allowed pets as landlords.
But we have always been upfront about our pets, it does reduce the field but is possible.

If you don't say anything what happens if a neighbor complains to your landlord about either of your pets.
Or a boiler breaks and before you can have it fixed you have to hide the pets and all traces of them.

Talk to the landlord, show them your current home. But in a hot market a large dog is going to be an issue.

@PollyPepper Landlords absolutely can still refuse pets they just have to give a "good reason". In practice this means landlords that don't want pets all list allergies as a reason. Tenants are hardly going to go through expensive legal proceedings to challenge this. It really has changed fuck all in practice. No one can force a landlord to take a pet.

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.

This is a contradiction:

A large dog and a cat WILL cause damage. There will be scratch marks (even just from their nails lightly touching surfaces) on the floors and fixtures. There will be stubborn pet hair stuck in every nook and cranny. There will be stains on the floorboards underneath the carpet from one-off accidents. The property will be irreparably changed by having pets, hence why landlords are hesitant

To combat this, you should not lie about having them ffs. You’ll only end up getting evicted and being in this exact same situation in 12 months time! Like, you haven’t thought this through have you? You’re stressed now, how stressed will you feel with court orders and possibly bailiffs involved?

To me, your solution is common sense. Tell the landlord upfront and pay a larger deposit that will cover the damage caused by pets. I would expect the landlord would want to replace any carpets etc so don’t expect a deep clean to be sufficient

pay a larger deposit that will cover the damage caused by pets.

Shelter campaigned hard and successfully to make this illegal.
Thereby making it harder to rent with pets.

I wouldn't lie but get your landlord to vouch for how good condition with pets the property you leave is, if it's as good as you say. Also offer a larger deposit to show you are confident your pets won't cause damage and offer to replace carpets etc if they thing they are not as in good condition because of the pets. Hopefully she will agree if they are reasonable if not it's not the right place for your family.

I adore dogs but you can always tell by the smell if a dog lives in a house. I grew up with dogs but just can't afford one of my own now I'm an adult. Many of my friends have dogs and they all have a dog smell. I'm not saying it's bad (to me certainly).

Have an honest discussion with the LL, and a reference from your current LL to state that there's no damage as a result.

@Veterinari - of course it's the landlord's home

My god people on here genuinely think the lazy slacker could have bought a house if she hadn’t wasted her hard earned money on butchers

FML IVE HEARD IT ALL NOW

PEAK MUMSNET

The house I currently rent said no pets. I asked landlord/lady if an extra deposit for the cat would be OK, she agreed and it was £400 on top of the normal deposit. Alot really but I had no choice. My cat is lazy, non destructive and I hoover and wash carpets regularly so no issue. He is de flead and vaccinated etc. I will get the £400 back when I leave. Worth a try asking if that is an option.

[quote luckylavender]@Veterinari - of course it's the landlord's home [/quote]
The law disagrees with you

The property is considered the home of the tenant. The landlord has no legal right to enter (except in an emergency)

@luckylavender
No, it isn't. It's the LL's property but the tenants home.

[quote luckylavender]@Veterinari - of course it's the landlord's home [/quote]
The dictionary also disagrees with you btw.
It is the landlord's property. It is not the rut home

I think you are in a good position. You can move in quickly, you will have a good reference and you will stay long term. I pay pet rent for our cats (I offered it) as the landlord wasnt keen on pets.

I would offer some more money and get your friend to recommend you.

Do not even think about lying. A Rottweiler owner and a liar - not the ideal tenant!

@lakesummer

pay a larger deposit that will cover the damage caused by pets.

Shelter campaigned hard and successfully to make this illegal.
Thereby making it harder to rent with pets.

Ahhh I see. I would still offer to pay more to account for pets anyway, just avoid calling it a pet deposit.

I can smell dogs in a house, every single owner will say "oh you wont in mine" but you really can! Its like smokers who think that they dont stink of it...

Rehome the animals, this is way too important.

Or do you love them more than your childrens security and happiness? Sorry to be harsh but thats what it comes down to.