AIBU to be so annoyed about this.

[TeaAndTattoos]

I will try and keep this as brief as possible. My DH and I are looking for a new house to rent I found a 2 bedroom flat the advert said pets allowed when I messaged I asked about pets just to clarify that they are definitely allowed the landlord said yes I told him what pets we have 3 cats and a very small Jack Russell I don’t work I’m a career for my parents so the dog is always with me landlord again said fine I arranged a viewing. We went to the viewing I reminded him again about the pets he said absolutely fine. I’ve just checked my emails now and the landlord has declined our application because of the pets. Why say they were fine and let me waste my time viewing the property if he knew that he would never accept us because of them. Why are private landlords such twats.

Yes probably as if anything happens to your DHs work there is no buffer to be able to pay your rent. It’s a bit risky for an LL, and they are risk averse.

Don't live in the UK. It's my property, I have the right to pick and chose who lives there. Its that simple really.

There was no estate agent involved it was all done through the website OpenRent and it was the landlord himself doing everything so he didn’t really need to generate anymore competition. As for dogs don’t belong in flats the dog is handling it just fine just like the dog we had before did. It was never the pets that was his issue he just used that as his excuse.

I think so even though he knew my husband has been in his current workplace for 10 years and with him being chef and the area we live in he wouldn’t struggle to find another job but me being unemployed isn’t going to change at any point but I don’t know what to tell people when it comes to employment.

Could you say you work as full-time carer and not specify that it's for your parents?

Thank you I could try that because they only need to know what I do just not who I do it for.

I thought this was no longer allowed and landlords cannot refuse to allow tenants to have pets.

I didn’t know that they couldn’t refuse to allow pets.

You have four animals and you don’t have a full-time job.

As a landlord, I’m afraid that I would never rent to someone with that amount of pets.
the amount of damage potentially caused is huge.

Private landlords aren't all twats.
Why would you risk your property by allowing animals?

agree the advert shouldn't have said pets are ok

No because I’m a full time career for my disabled parents or should I tell them to take care of themselves.

Well we’ve been in our current flat 6 years and they’ve caused no damage.

It’s not come into effect yet. Later this year.

Up until fairly recently I was also helping to take care of my grandma but what with her dying in December I’m no longer needed there. See me not having a job means that I can be there to help out and I know exactly what I’m doing what with my last job being a care assistant in an end stage dementia nursing home.

While it's obviously upset you, I think you need to try and move on from this.
The fact that he changed his mind is his to take, he's the one taking a risk with a property he owns. He's given the pets as his reason, and that might be- maybe he spoke to his insurers and they said they wouldn't cover you. Maybe he re-read a lease agreement and that amount of pets would be breaking a clause. Maybe he's spoke to a neighbour after meeting you and they've put in an on objection to the pets. Alternatively, he could be lying, using that as an excuse because he met you and just didn't want you as a tenant. You will honestly never find out, so still stewing on it is only giving you a negative thought.

For those saying about the changes in law for pets, the law doesn't mean that it will automatically be allowed. It means that a landlord has to have a reason to refuse pets. 4 pets in a flat can absolutely be refused as not suitable, as can one dog that's too large, or the fact that the landlord has asthma set off by dog hair, or no pets in the lease. They just need a reason to say no.

I have I’ve already started looking for somewhere else I have a viewing on Monday for house that will allow pets and I’m waiting to hear back about another place that also allows pets.

I am a LL, and this was my first thought.

OP- you say you’re out looking after your parents early morning until 11pm 7 days a week? No wonder you’re on edge. You’re also grieving for your grandparent. This isn’t a sustainable arrangement- do you have anyone who can give you some respite from the situation? A sibling or another relative? Do you have to move or can you stay in your current place because if I were out of the house for 16+ hours a day, every day, I’m not sure I’d even notice where I lived.

You need to put this particular landlord behind you and move on. He said no and he wasn’t upfront about it all but it is done now. Keep looking and good luck!

Oh I’m use to it and I enjoy doing it my sister is over the road from them so can be there in an emergency but she works full time and has children. We do need to move our current situation isn’t in the best condition and the landlord doesn’t want to do anything about it I’ve put up with it for 3 years but now it’s starting to get to me so we decided in October that we would start looking for somewhere else. Unfortunately it’s all on me to look and pack and sort out because my husband is working full time I do have moments where it gets to be a lot trying to juggle and fit in around everything else but I find a way of managing even when I was doing nights with my grandma and days with my parents. Surprisingly taking care of my family is a lot easier on my mental health than work ever was. We would like to have a family in the future and with me being 36 it’s a now or never type of thing and due to some issues we will need to go down the route of IVF so I would like to get a move sorted before that happens because it will be easier to do now while I’m
not pregnant vs when I am and I can’t ask my DH for help with the house search because he just doesn’t have a clue although I will say he has tried to help with the search. Thank you I’ve already got a viewing booked for a house on Monday and I’m waiting to hear back about another place so it’s all good I’ve picked myself up dusted myself off had my little moan and now I’m plowing on with the search we will find somewhere even if it takes a while.

Ah that sucks op. So hard to have got your hopes up just for it all to fall through. You’re right, it was unfair to say pets are fine then blame the pets for turning you down… altho I suspect there was probably a bit more to it and that was just the reason he chose to present in order to prevent any back and forth. It’s hard finding a rental to accept pets and I say that as someone who lives pretty rurally in a farming area, so naturally pets are more ‘acceptable’ here than a flat in a town or city. Hope you find somewhere soon!

Exactly and I’m fine about it now because it just wasn’t the flat for us and I may not have been happy there in the longer term. Unfortunately the price of private housing has gone up exponentially in the 6 years we have been in our current flat and we are having to look a bit further away from my parents because the price difference between a one bedroom and a 2 bedroom is not that much different so we are trying to get a 2 bedroom because we may need the extra bedroom in the future but it’s trying to plan for the future on right now’s budget. I’m just going to keep my eye out and keep applying for places because we will find somewhere eventually but for now we are ok to stay where we are we just need to find a way of making it more workable for us.

Thank you exactly that’s what was the kick in the teeth getting our hopes up like that just turn round and use it as his reason to say no but it’s ok that flat just wasn’t meant for us. Oh I would love to live rurally but we don’t drive. Thank you I have a viewing on Monday for a house that will take pets and I’m waiting to hear about another place that will take pets there is somewhere out there for us and I will find it.

Please take care of yourself, OP! If you’re caring for your parents 16 hours a day (7 days a week I assume) you’re “working” over double the amount of time that your DH is, so the bulk of the packing and house hunting shouldn’t all fall on you. I’ve been in a similar position before (house hunting, working, caring for family, and a diabetic cat!) and at the time I enjoyed it, but further down the line I really burnt myself out.

I know the market is tricky at the moment, but you’d be better looking for a small house with a garden, or a flat with outdoor space; much more likely to accept pets. My current landlord didn’t accept pets but I offered to pay £150pcm on top of the rent for them, and put down a larger deposit. He’s actually become very fond of them. On inspection days he’ll bring them treats and toys 😂

I just thought I would post an update we ended up getting a small 2 bedroom house with a garden with a landlord that I was with 10 years ago who accepts pets we moved in on Monday we are all very happy and nearly settled in.