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.

And where are ‘the tiny minority’ supposed to live? Don’t their disabilities count?

Forgot to add to my previous response: one big benefit to tenants with children is that they don't move so often. Keeping the same tenants for years and years saves a lot of time and money in redecorating, advertising / credit checks etc for new tenants, and fallow periods. Plus once they have been there for a while and you know they aren't nightmare tenants, there's low risk compared with having someone new in every year.

If I were a tenant with children looking for a rental property, I'd stress that to landlords: be sure they know you are looking for somewhere you can stay for a good few years. You're better off using landlords who manage their properties themselves. It's to an agent's advantage (but not a landlord's) to keep a high turnover of tenants so they can charge for all of the above, and they often line their own pockets by trying to achieve that, for example by persuading landlords to favour young mobile childless tenants.

You’ll just have to find properties that have never had pets living in them. Now you’ll understand how hard it has been for people with pets to find homes. I say this as a person who doesn’t have pets. I have friends and family who do, and it’s ridiculous how hard it’s been for them to find homes that will accept their pets.

Deep clean before moving in.

the market will decide - that's what people are ok with, right? So if LL think there is a market for pet-free rentals, someone will go into that and probably charge a premium. As will others who will be ok to accept pets, at a price and with insurance.

+Meanwhile, back in the real world, most people with allergies know that this doesn't give them the right to dictate other people's lifestyles. I'm more than happy to not take my dog to an allergic person's house, or not eat peanuts on a plane. But dictating that I'm not allowed to own a dog simply because I'm a millennial who hasn't yet managed to get on the property ladder? Sod off.*

What on Earth are you on about?!

I’ve also reported your abuse😊

So ignore one disability because others trump it apparently

No it's about risk versus benefits for society as a whole.
Unfortunately, it's ultimately the allergy sufferers responsibility to avoid or eliminate triggers from their environment. No laws or regulations can be relied on, there are too many caveats, loopholes and chances the rules won't be adhered to.

It essentially means adults must take their own personal responsibility.

Forgot to add to my previous response: one big benefit to tenants with children is that they don't move so often. Keeping the same tenants for years and years saves a lot of time and money in redecorating, advertising / credit checks etc for new tenants, and fallow periods. Plus once they have been there for a while and you know they aren't nightmare tenants, there's low risk compared with having someone new in every year.

Same applies to pet owning tenants.

Before I got DDog when a flatmate in a no-pets property moved out and left him with me I had lived in 8 properties in 7 years, with my record for staying in one place being 18 months. Having DDog made it much harder to move so I've stayed in my current place for 4 years, despite the damp (I would definitely have moved due to the damp if it weren't for the dog).

Abuse 😂😂😂😂

They live in homes where the previous tenant didn't have a pet (probably with a better certainty that they wouldn't have been lying about it to avoid eviction).
Or they live in homes where the landlord has an exemption certificate.
Or they live in unfurnished homes with hard floors and get them deep cleaned before moving in.

Unfortunately, it's ultimately the allergy sufferers responsibility to avoid or eliminate triggers from their environment

But how can they if every house is allowed pets?

I think that's the point OP is trying to make. Landlords choices are going to be removed in regards who they rent too.

Yes landlords will just sell up instead.

OP your only choice is to completely remove and replace all carpets at your own expense. That's your only guarantee but I'd not want to do that in a house I didnt own. My carpets are 20 years old in our rented house. I'm not paying for new ones

Is an allergy a disability? I swear I'm not being goady, it's a genuine question because I didn't know they were classified as that.

I'm not saying the rights of those with allergies should be ignored. Maybe they should strike out the pets clause in the Bill. But the rest of it is a brilliant step forward for the rights of renters.

Yes it’s a disability.

But dictating that I'm not allowed to own a dog simply because I'm a millennial who hasn't yet managed to get on the property ladder? Sod off

It isn’t a human right to own a dog you know

It’s not forcing landlords to say yes to pets, it’s just saying they can’t post ads saying NO PETS. In reality, I expect there will be plenty of landlords who still blanket ban them, just not so overtly.

Prob been said

But replace carpet with laminate
Curtains for blinds
Not many places come furnished so s sofa would likely be your own

Be inventive op! You can make it work for you!

It’s not forcing landlords to say yes to pets, it’s just saying they can’t post ads saying NO PETS. In reality, I expect there will be plenty of landlords who still blanket ban them, just not so overtly.

I have every sympathy with you OP. I also have a severe allergy to animals. For me dogs and horses are the worst and I have been hospitalised on several occasions after coming into contact with them. For people saying what about going to other peoples houses, pet friendly restaurants etc. The answer is that I can’t. It’s getting harder and harder to manage as more places are becoming dog friendly. The worst thing is that if I mention it to people they think that I don’t like their pets and are insulted. Just wish people would understand how ill their animals can make me. Would also be great if modern medicine could come up with a way of treating this.

I just read that renters will be able to challenge a landlord's refusal to let them have pets and the landlord has to come up with a good reason.

Just because every house (except the ones with exemptions) is allowed pets it doesn't mean that every tenant will actually have pets. Anaphylaxis level allergies to pets are pretty rare but there are loads of families where one member has a milder allergy who will keep pet free homes..

I think you may be in a better position, as you will be more likely to be able to ask whether pets have been in previously and get a truthful answer.

It must be very difficult for you though - I own no pets, but my house is not allergen free, since the local cats hang out in my garden and like to slip indoors when I'm not looking. I don't feed or water them, but I've had to evict a strange cat more than once!

You can't guarantee an animal other than human has visited or lived in a home though. Firstly saying "no pets" does not guarantee the tenant will not get an animal to live with them, they can just ignore it in practise.

Secondly they are still very likely to have those with dogs come and visit, even stay over, which I don't even think is against the rules if the tenant is obligated to be pet free?

I think the difference will be as minimal as weed being illegal (in that those who want to smoke weed/live with cats or dogs will do it regardless of the law)

Wouldn't the easiest solution be for you to rent an unfurnished property that isn't carpeted - wooden floors/laminate/vinyl/tiles are becoming more and more common and are much more hygienic anyway.