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.

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

More people would be able to
buy their own house rather than be stuck renting. It would be much better for first time buyers.

The problem is that the model in this country is not graduate, get first job, live with family (or move in with partner's family) and then buy a flat/small house (which is what I did)..the model in this country is graduate, get first job, get flatshare, rent first flat with partner, save for first home with partner, buy first home (preferably house with garden/maisonette big enough for a baby)- so not the cheapest type of property. The latter model means a fair amount of time spent in rental regardless of income levels.

That’s not how my ds or dss did it,

They graduated, got job, came home, saved for deposit, and now can’t get anything because of landlords and investors.

When we were looking at flats, most of them were no forward chain, and most of those were BTL landlords selling up.

Look for places without carpet. Or ask landlord to replace carpet.

its true, i bought my flat from an ex landlord.Looking at a (bigger) flat now that is being sold by an ex landlord who is being crippled by debt.

But the key thing is we don't have kids and when we bought, we had a pretty average london income and i know professionals who have similar income who have rented but also managed to buy (albeit a few years later). Without these things, we would not have managed to buy with or without increased supply of homes. we have an earnings crisis, not just a housing crisis. But an incredibly number of well paid people and rich people (I have friends whose parents bought flats and houses for them; they are neither investors or BTL landlords, but there are quite a lot of them).

As OP herself is only interested in renting.

I'd really like you to show me where I said that? For most people, buying is not a choice in our current housing market. It's out of touch to think otherwise.

To whoever said this, I don't get disability benefits and don't think I should. If I avoid allergens, other than some infection related flare ups, increasing my sickness rate and meaning that I can't cook, clean, shop at those times, I live a normal life. That's what life is like when you avoid allergens. Having 2 weeks of the year (estimate of worst case in recent years) unable to do basic things is not reason to claim benefits and I always live in preparation for that (i.e. have enough food in and clean clothes to be able to survive a week without being able to do these things). This does not make me entitled to benefits.

Saying 'ask landlord to change carpets' suggests you are out of touch with the rental market. There is a glut of renters. Why would LL do that for me when they can avoid the cost by renting to someone else?

It sounds like the way forward is something like:

1. Some but not all properties should be designated pet-free for renters benefit. Not sure what proportion but I guess looking at allergy stats someone clever could work out what might be a reasonably required percentage?


2. People with pets should not rent those properties


3. Anyone living in a designated pet-free property should take some civic responsibility and not bring in a pet to that property - they should understand that this is a dangerous and selfish decision. This will be easier if there are more available properties to rent which allow pets.


4. LL should be encouraged (or required?) to have hard floors in properties


5. There should be a fund for people with serious allergies to claim for the cost of a deep clean when they move in if they're unable to fund that themselves (don't underestimate how much this would cost and don't confuse this with a normal end of lease clean). This sits alongside disability benefits as will be needed by many people who appropriately aren't entitled to usual disability benefits.


6. There should be better recognition of what a serious pet allergy actually is - there are a lot of dangerous myths being pedalled on this thread


7. Generally the housing market needs an overhaul so that those who want to buy can much more easily do so and housing can stop being seen primarily as an investment opportunity - this benefits both pet owners and non-pet owners.

But that's not case regionally surely? In Kent my home town was cheap as some places up north. Until the rent cap came in and people moved out of London. Prices first increased due to rent cap, then due to covid exodus from London, now because terrace homes are being converted to bed sits.

If every landlord sold in my town then the void would be filled by Londoners. Everyone has to live somewhere. Not all the renters in London can afford to buy but lots did as it's so much cheaper in comparison.

I don’t know regionally. I just live in a big university city. He’s looking at first time buyers stuff and has just lost his 6th house to a cash buyer.

petallergysufferer - some of your suggestions would contravene the leasehold of our flat - not having pets; and no hardwood floors on all but the ground floor ones. I think they have both been put in place to keep the block as quiet at possible for the other flatholders. So the leaseholds would all need to be updated and all the flatholders would potentially have to accept more noise, which might not be great for everyone

OP I think you're being a bit 'dramatic' about the whole thing tbh !

Yes, I get that your allergies impact your life.

But I think you're being ridiculous to suggest that 'society' needs to change things, simply to help you (And the very small numbers of people similarly affected).

YOU are responsible for FINDING a way to get round the issues you face.

i.e Save money to pay for deep clean pre moving in/replacing flooring, or move to live in an area where hard flooring/laminate is the 'norm' if you're having difficulty finding a flat without carpets !

The extra cost of this IS your 'responsibility' ffs ! Just as it's YOUR responsibility to pay for all your medications ! Because it's YOUR bloody HEALTH ! Not mine ! Or anybody else's ! It's YOURS !

Tens of thousands of people live their lives with disabilities/ allergies/ medical conditions that cost them more money every single bloody day !
e.g People who can't use stairs. Wheelchair bound people. Blind people. Deaf people. People who need help to eat/ sleep/ work/ toilet etc. People who can't use public transport. People who are allergic to pets/ foods/ chemicals/ materials etc. And they ALL have extra problems/ issues and costs. They ALL have to 'negotiate' difficulties in their daily lives. And most of them just crack on and get things sorted themselves.

And given you've never suffered an anaphylaxis or been ventilated, you're FAR from even being the worst affected with your allergies ! (But that's NOT said to 'minimize' your condition, because I know it IS serious. It just ain't as bad as it CAN get ! e.g Immediate anaphylaxis to ANY airborne particles !) But you seem set on the 'pity party'/ poor me/ you just don't understand...!

Lots of us (with conditions/disabilities/allergies) DO bloody well 'get it', and we DO 'understand', but you've got to accept that because WE are in a VERY small 'minority' of the population, we're never going to be able to access everything that most people take for granted ! It's NOT economically OR socially 'viable', and NEVER WILL BE ! (Also, severe/brittle asthma IS a disability. It affects your daily living and places restrictions on where you can go and what you can do !)

So, we have to help ourselves.

I'd advise you to find out about charities/ grants etc which may be available to you to help with the cost of replacing flooring/ cleaning etc so that you can start helping yourself to get suitable housing ? ( You may find that if you look for a flat with crappy/worn flooring, you could 'negotiate' with the landlord for a rent reduction if you replace the flooring etc, which may be doable with some financial help ? Then even if they want carpets in, they will be brand new with zero pet dander ?) You may also get benefits which would help you financially. Help for work (If a problem arises) etc etc A very quick Google throws up ;

www.allergyuk.org/

www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/welfare-benefits

www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/allergies

Hopefully you will find/ be able to access some help by doing your research and applying for any help you may be eligible for. You may well have local organisations who can help you too, but you're going to have to put in the 'legwork' to find what's available for you.

I wish you the very best, and hope you can find somewhere lovely to live.

Could you not just find a rental that hasn't previously housed fluffy animals? Just an idea.

@gonnascreamsoon
You really need to stop shouting at people. it's hugely unpleasant. You soooo don't get this. I am very happy to take responsibility and have spent my life doing so. However, this new rule will make it impossible as I take responsibility by seeking out places which have a no pet rule. Not sure why that's so complicated for you to get.

Your links are a joke. One of them is in America. The allergy one says nothing useful and the BHF one makes it clear that I am not eligible as none of these apply:

You might be eligible to claim benefits if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
have care or mobility needs because of your lung condition
cannot work due to your lung condition
are thinking of giving up work because of your lung condition
care for someone with a lung condition.

The people with physical disabilities you mention are often eligible for benefits and rightly so.

People with allergies can often lead normal lives when they avoid allergens. Saying it is my responsibility to pay 1000's so other people can have a pet in any single rental home rather than keeping some for me and the 1000s of others this will be a problem for makes you look like a total dick tbh. what bubble are you living in where you can negotiate with a landlord?

And btw assuming that people have not nearly died because they've not suffered anaphylaxis or been intubated just makes you look ignorant.

yes that would be a problem in older properties and not workable I think. Noise pollution should not be the solution as it's hugely impactful on people's wellbeing. There just seem to be a lot of people on this thread who think hard floors are an easy answer.

I'm a former landlord who is allergic to pets and we.didnt allow pets due to that.

I wouldn't have been able to go into my own property.

Agree op. Even deep cleaning doesn't fully get rid of the allergens.
People without allergies don't understand

You don't need to be on benefits or out of work to get help finding a house that you medically need.

There should be a fund for people with serious allergies to claim for the cost of a deep clean when they move in if they're unable to fund that themselves (don't underestimate how much this would cost and don't confuse this with a normal end of lease clean). This sits alongside disability benefits as will be needed by many people who appropriately aren't entitled to usual disability benefits.

You mean like the fund the local authority could award you if you applied? You believe you will die if you rent the wrong house but you're also sure you don't have a disability.

Why do you so want this to be an everybody issue when it's clearly a you (and maybe 10 in this country) issue?

No that's not what I said. I think I do have a disability but I don't think the current system allows me to claim for this as it rightly expects me to take some personal responsibility and avoid allergens. The new proposals will, at face value, mean I can't any more.

I honestly can't find a fund which would allow cleaning of a property before I moved in but it you do know of one in England can you share a link? You may have solved the problem with this if I and others in my position are assessed as eligible! and if we're not maybe we need to try and persuade some allergy organisations to campaign for that to be the case.

You really think this is 10 people?! Really!!! Wow!!! This is 1000s of people.

I guess we could turn this on it's head and say that as people on this thread want to see re-flooring and deep anti-allergy cleaning, we could ask pet owners to do that when they leave a property.

I actually am disabled and it’s not the same. Nice try though.

What you're missing OP is that you're still insisting that these proposals mean that it will be impossible to hire a formerly pet free home, when there's nothing whatsoever to make that the case.

There are specific provisions in the bill to enable some landlords to have permanently pet free properties. Or you can simply ask whether the previous tenants had pets when you look to hire a property. Yes you'll probably have less choice, as a trade off for pet owners having more choice, but you won't have no choice, and you're really not going to die.

Can you tell me why not? genuinely interested and willing to change my view.

Can I share websites? This one which I think is a solicitors appears to say that severe life-threatening allergies (i.e. mine) are a disability

howarths-uk.com/2016/07/19/allergy-or-disability/

It will be reassuring if that turns out to be the case as it's genuinely terrifying to hear that there is a blanket 'pets allowed' policy. I don't mind less choice, that's a reasonable compromise. No choice is terrifying.

If you have any condition that is causing significant difficulties in everyday life (ie existing in your own home) you are entitled to help. You would have medical records from your GP and hospital proving how severe your allergies are and the risks you face if it is not cleaned/furnished the way you need. You would get in touch with your council and present this evidence. We don't all have the same easy tick box disabilities, there is no special fund for ramps for example. Each time someone is helped by the council to be housed suitably due to disability it is looked at individually. There are all manner of adaptions and help that people need just to live in their homes. They are all assessed individually.

I can't say how your particular council will deal with your needs, but if they're unhelpful you can take it to your MP or ask your doctors for further reports or letters, citizens advice bureau may help and shelter. It's not always easy, people with disabilities are sometimes waiting a long time for help that never comes unfortunately. But if you need it, you need it and it's your council's responsibility to help you get it.

"If you’ve been assessed by your local council as needing care and support services, you may want to choose Direct Payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from your local council."

You would not be the first person to need help with cleaning.

"Disabled Facilities Grants are local council grants. It helps towards the cost of essential adaptations to your home to enable you to continue to live there"

Or the first person to need help with appropriate furnishings.

www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/home-and-housing