To think that the renters reform bill is going to kill people with allergies?

[Petallergysufferer]

Just that really. I know many people will see this as a good thing. I know too that the severity of allergy to pets which means they can kill you is rare. But it does happen. I am that severely allergic. So if landlords can't give a blanket ban then there are no pet-free properties for me to move into.

For those who don't know - antihistamines make no difference and the only way to get all allergens out of the place is to remove all soft furnishings including carpets and underlay. Deep cleaning things does not work. So unless the landlords change all carpets, curtains, sofas etc. in between tenants, then it still has enough allergens to trigger a life-threatening reaction. For me that reaction is asthma and I already see a hospital specialist so there is no further treatment that can be offered. Avoiding allergens is the key advice. I'm really worried that the full implications have not been thought through.

Really? Everywhere I have rented has been mostly floorboards and laminate. Carpets would be manky in a rental surely?

As for your allergy a professional deep clean including carpets will remove most/all traces of a pet. Steam cleaning will finish off anything that gets missed. There is a carpet treatment (silvering?) that can be applied too. Even without pets the previous tenants 'remains' will probably set off an allergy, so asking for, paying for your own, deep, end of tenancy clean is probably always going to be essential!

Not enough traces removed. I know this from bitter experience and one of my hospitalisations.

People really, really need to try and hear that deep cleaning soft furnishings does not sort things out not matter how inconvenient that truth is.

Some yeah. But they're cheaper than laminate or wood so that's what landlords often go for.

Hard floors are prohibited in most leases.

Not by general law. Only in some structures either because of the type of foundation underneath or because of a building adminstration regulation to prevent the people living in a downstairs flat having to murder the ones upstairs as the dog and kids clatter round on the laminate.

But you don't want reasonable adjustments to one council home, you want to keep it more difficult for all private renters to have pets. Your asthma sounds like a disability, it is disabling. Surely you know that people with disabilities don't have unfettered access to the private rental market at all times. Reasonable adaptions can and are made on an individual basis but you can't expect every private landlord to have ramps, stair lifts, wet rooms, lowered cupboards etc. If you need adaptions to your rented home for your disability and you can't afford them yourself you need to contact your local authority (like every other disabled person), not campaign against pet owners being able to rent easier.

It's not HAIR that people are allergic to, it's actually saliva. There is zero saliva left in a house once a dog/cat has gone and the place has been cleaned.

not sure about that. I am allergic to all kinds of animals, it's not the saliva mostly it's the dust and dust mites that are in their hair/fur/feathers. We hot desk at work and when someone who has a pet has been sitting on the chair i usually use, i can often see pet hair. And within 30 minutes I'm wheezing, eyes streaming and scratchy throat. (the solution? There is an office with "clean" chairs which you're not allowed to use if you have pets. It's a bit extreme but there are 5 or 6 of us - from about 150 people - who use it regularly, and since that was set up i haven't had problems.)

It’s proteins in the saliva I think. If they are stable they can persist in the environment.

Severe allergies should be treated like a disability I agree. And if that means priority social housing to keep people safe, that’s what needs to happen.

It's not HAIR that people are allergic to, it's actually saliva. There is zero saliva left in a house once a dog/cat has gone and the place has been cleaned

Its dander which causes most allergies. And cleaning a house doesn’t do much. Allergy molecules are very sticky and can remain in place for 6 months, long after any cleaning attempts.

Totally agree with this!

The OP seems not just that it must be harder for renters to own pets - but that option has to be ONLY for private renters to be pet free.

As OP herself is only interested in renting.

She doesn't feel this should be for council properties- or properties for sale!

But ONLY for private renters.

It doesn't make sense.....

The rule is changing as currently it is unworkable and unfair.

59% of the UK households have pets.
petkeen.com/pet-ownership-statistics-uk/#1_59_of_households_in_the_UK_own_pets_in_20202022

OP- you do realise currently up to a third of renters do not disclose that they have a pet to their landlord!

www.landlordnews.co.uk/uk-tenants-have-hidden-pets-for-over-three-years/

So may, many of properties you would view, would of had a pet living there- and you would not know.

Blanket ban on pets does not work and would not keep you safe.

www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/news/why-pet-friendly-properties-matter

OP your allergies sound so severe to be classed as a disability I agree reasonable adjustments should be made.

Have you looked into applying for a grant?
www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/eligibility

Access a mortgage- I think there are schemes (particularly part buy part rent) that you can access with disability benefits.

If you are registered disabled -you may qualify for being on the housing register- there are

It goes without saying in your position I would never move to a rented property with second hand furniture.

What I'm actually hearing is that like many of us, it sounds like the private rented sector is, and always will be a poor fit for you.

It sounds like, you need to make long term adjustments to the property you move into.

Hi- felt your reply was quite rude and patronising........(hope you don't speak to people accessing your help like this). Who like me (unlike yourself) will be stuck renting forever.

Replying as it really annoys me, that you can ignore the powerless situation, and stresses of renting longterm with a family as "rubbish".
Yes you are right I was given a Section 21 and technically 2 months notice.

However, in effect (as you should know). 2 months notice would not make much difference, as it's nearly impossible to find a property available in 2 months time. Rented properties are advertised as available in 2 weeks or available now. Sorry I could not afford to pay 2 lots of private rent over 2 months.
So I actually had one month to look for a property available at the end (or near enough) at the end of that month.

Also I appreciate this is the legal advice you are giving out--- and it is entirely correct. That if you go pass your notice, the landlord has to follow legal procedures to evict you.

And (correct me if this has changed), as I understand it, the advice from the council was that you MUST not move out at that time, as you would make yourself intentionally homeless, and the council can relinquish their statuary duty to rehouse.

The problem with this approach, is that it is a nuclear option. If I stayed my relationship with my landlord would of broken down, I would NOT of got a reference. Making it nearly impossible (with children and a small amount of top up housing benefit) to find another property, in the given timescale.

I would run the risk of being locked out of private rented accommodation forever.

If I stayed waiting to be evicted, I would definitely of burned all bridges with my landlord.

Sure, the council may of rehoused me in a bed sit and temporary accommodation for several years, and I may or may not be in the long term be in a better position.

But as me and my partner are actually on ok wages, ( but not high enough to buy or even rent without top up benefits) and ( we most likely would of been homeowners if housing hadn't of skyrocketed from 2013). I wasn't willing to put my children through that.

If we are going to have ever increasing house prices, and move to a model where some people will be renting forever, we need to make it more like the european model.
More autonomy for the renter in decoration, having children, pets

This things really matter to people's mental health.

And more long term rental agreements.

If we lose amateur landlords, I think that is great.

Renting out property should be taken seriously.

I agree with amateur landlords being discouraged from entering the sector. We live in north London and in our friendship group, we know a couple where the boyfriend and girlfriend are living together in the boyfriend's flat. Now the girlfriend has bought the flat downstairs (it's a period conversion) and the freehold. So they will be moving into the girlfriend's flat and renting out 2 rooms upstairs (including the lounge, it's a 2 bedroom flat). The boyfriend is keeping one room for himself upstairs (to keep his stuff); he told me that it's because the people who rent the rooms would be lodgers and hence a lot of the new standards around renting (including pet keeping) would not apply! I mean, on one level, it sounds reasonable cos it's his girlfriend's flat and its quite common for a lot of unmarried couples to want their own space away. But I know them and they are talking about babies and they are very much a couple i.e. live together full time. Anyway it doesn't matter what their personal reasons are- the people he rents the room to are going to be lodgers with significantly less rights. They had a little dog in that flat upstairs (boyfriend's flat) but you can bet that the lodgers would not be allowed pets.

Having seen the state of my neighbours rented house and garden who have five animals Im with landlords being able to ban animals,when they will have to clear up the place when the tenants leave

@MrsDThomas

Third of renters won't tell you about pets anyway........

From what I've seen the "nice" middle class professionals are more likely to do this.

So don't think you can sense this from a tenant.......

As they don't give a stuff about being evicted.... As saving up deposit, or/and know they can move into a flat share, mum and dad etc......

And will also more likely to be super demanding, and leave after a year leaving gaps in your income.

You have to realise as a Landlord:

You own the Capital but when you rent it out you do not own their home.

That is what the tenant is paying for.....

The use of your building, for the use of their home.

Seriously if you cannot allow people the quiet use and enjoyment of their own home, you are entirely unsuited to being a landlord.

Mitigate risk- Provide good quality flooring. Hard if possible. Wool carpet- (no beige please) in sensible colour.

Do not let furnished, unless short term

Professionally deep clean after tenancy, as standard.

Garden, lawn- please do no put concrete/ paving - very poor for the environment.

Shed with lawn mower, garden tools as standard.

You could as a goodwill provide Instructions on what plants are in the garden, bulbs etc and basic instructions on how to maintain a garden.

Some people would never of used a garden before.

I think a lot of the rants above that are aimed at landlords should actually be aimed at bad tenants and the legal system that allows them to remain in properties for months with no financial comeback. I would happily allow tenants to decorate my properties if I knew they were going to make a half decent job of it. Once you have had a tenant trash a place it makes you much more wary as you have to fork out loads to put things right.....if you owned a place you would put dust sheets down first to protect carpets and you wouldnt allow your 5 year old to paint (thats what it looked like).

It is very easy to say the place has to be returned to a reasonable condition before leaving.
Although normally tenants want to decorate because landlords are failing to. A lot wait until a new tenancy until they do anything.

Yes agree-

Most landlords will not decorate until you move out- which if you renting for years is frustrating. Punishing long term renters

IMO Landlords should let tenants (or at least give the option) to decorate themselves.....

Well, a prospective tenant can simply not announce the fact they have pets. I wouldn’t. I’d just move them in if it’s not written in the contract.

Thankfully, I’m allowed pets because I own my home. It’s ridiculous that renters are unable to treat the house they live in as a home. They are not second class citizens.

I agree bad decorating is not great- but again that is why (if possible) no carpet is really sensible.

All tenants could cause you problems, consider these 3 common scenarios---

Family with a 4 and 2 year old.....

Family wants to decorate as toddler has grubby fingers and draws on walls. does the job not to your standard
Not great

Professional Couple mid twenties.....
Have high standards, want you to remove the carpet, redecorate, complain about damp but do not open windows to allow circulation and will not use tumble dryer. Complain about simple things that they should do themselves, minor blocked toilet, light bulb change etc...After all the decoration/ adjustments. Want to move out after 7 months. Not happy for people to view the flat. Find they have a cat.
Not great

Couple, mid 50s one has long term disability, the other working (10 years plus) never moves out, looks after property doesn't complain but you feel guilty about putting the rent up to market rates as housing allowance may not cover. No they would find it difficult to find another property
Not great

I don't think you can tell who will ruin your property, or be an annoying tenant.

The truth is that most tenants will cause you some sort of annoyance somewhere down the line.

I think all you can hope for is one that will pay the rent on time....

A kitchen/ bathroom should be replaced every 10/15 years, depending on condition .
I would actually favour european style rents where the tenant can put in their own kitchen/ bathroom.....

Also I stated the reason why a lot of tenants get an enormous bad rep.....

As mentioned earlier by a housing soilicitor....

Standard advice will be for a tenant is to stay past an eviction .....

Apologies this may of changed.. but as I understand it .....The council will not house you if you move before being evicted as you would be intentionally homeless.

Blame the courts for taking so long. Blame the government for not building enough council houses and shouldering the responsibility on to you (private landlords) to house 20% and rising of the UK population. Blame all governments in the past 15 years that millions of mid earners are now blocked from home ownership.

Also, surely if landlords rented to people who could pay the rent and allow part benefits, children, and pets than less people would be forced to declare being homeless in the first place...........So you would less likely have the scenario where you have a tenant not paying rent for months at a time.....

OP I’m a landlord. If I don’t want to let to people with pets trust me, I won’t. I’ll reject a pet application on some other basis. It’s a landlord’s market - sad but true. I’m a tenant myself and I’d love a dog but I also know we are more attractive tenants without. So until we buy a place no pooch!

@Dexy007

Third of renters, don't disclose pets ownership.....

Because of LL attitude- this actually makes the OP more unsafe.

What if you knew you would be renting forever..........for the rest of your life......

What makes the status of renting / owning so different?

So you're punishing yourself by not getting a dog and also punishing your tenant- bizarre......

Why don't you sell your rented property and buy your own place.

@changeornot just interested, who would be your ideal sort of tenant, or is there just no such thing? I can see why all those scenarios are a potential hassle. I have rented before and always wonder whether I come across as a good tenant or potential disaster!

I have been a landlord in the past and I would always say yes to pets (apart from when it went against a lease on a flat)

I have pets and would do a house up with pets in mind. (Good laminate and tiles everywhere and base plates on doors so no scratched wood etc) Usually because it was so hard to find a landlord to say yes to pets they would stay for a few years.
Usually after 1 year my non pet owning tenants would be moving on so I always seemed to have a void period of a couple of weeks-1 month each year.
Never got that in my pet friendly places. Even if pet owner decided to move on I could have the place tenanted then next day.

The problem is that if Landlords sold, where would people rent from.

I am in rented because I wanted a rental for 1 year whilst between houses.
Where would I go.

Landlords are being driven out of the btl market but not selling. They are turning to short term let’s which just make rents for a family home a lot higher and the landlord gets the money upfront, can get the police to remove anyone who outstays their contract and they can claim tax back from their mortgage interest payments on these type of mortgages.

All legislation brought in by governments to penalise landlords has just ended up penalising the tenants instead.

@Alltheleavesaregreen1

I'm not a landlord , but a private renter.

I was trying to illustrate that there is no such thing as perfect tenant.

All the scenarios are all examples I've witnessed, and also heard similar stories landlords have
complained about
on forums such as these and friends that I know that are also landlords etc..

It's too subjective and nearly everyone would/could be at fault.

But that is my point within reason you should not need to be the perfect tenant.

Because who is the perfect tenant?

You do not need to be a perfect home owner to own property, you do need to be a perfect landlord to let property, so you should not need to be a perfect tenant to rent property.

Good enough... should be good enough.

Landlords should stick to the basics. Safe homes, good quality flooring. reasonable rents.
And expect tenants to do the same..

Pays rent on time, and does not deliberately destroy the property. Paying for any real damage through their deposit.

Not wear and tear caused by putting down cheap carpets. Or badly put down flooring. Expecting the cheapest kitchen/bathroom from wickes to last 20 years...
Although landlord should also consider alterations, garden work that may have added value to the property. Length of time they have lived at the property- accidents do happen.

If the unlikely event a tenant does really damage a property -Severe damage fire/ water would be covered by landlords insurance.

Landlords are not employing the tenant. The tenant is paying for a service for the use of their building to live in for private enjoyment of their home.

It really is not the business of the landlord to make decisions on how the tenant chooses to live their life. If they lose their job but can still pay there rent through UC, if they have children, and need to claim UC for childcare. If they want to purchase a cat. How they want to decorate or furnish their flat- it really is no business of the landlord as long as their rent is coming in, on time.