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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get a dog even though tenancy agreement says I can't??

203 replies

WannaDoggie · 10/09/2009 18:16

I want to get my DCs a dog. For the last 3 years we have had to rent after having to sell our home and have not a hope in hell of buying again within the foreseeable future!! At our last property (different agent) we asked if we could get one and were told that we could'nt. Am thinking just to get one anyway without telling our current letting agents. I am aware that this will breach the terms our tenancy but so what we are paying lot of money to live here and should be able to live as we please. Why should my kids grow up without a pet because we rent?? We have obviously paid a damage deposit and IF there is any damage, we would rectify it whether from the kids or the dog.

Why should our lives be dictated to just because we can't get a mortgage? AIBU??

OP posts:
ginormoboobs · 10/09/2009 19:15

YABU
You will be evicted. Trust me , if it says no pets and you get a dog your landlord can serve you notice. If they are kind they may allow you to stay if you give your dog away.

One of the reasons that properties say no pets is because it really cuts down on the letting potential if an animal has lived there. People with allergies would not let the property.

Original poster
WannaDoggie · 10/09/2009 19:16

It's a house RT. It seems that the general consensus if that IBU . As far as I am concerned when a landlord decides to rent out a property, they should not have a say in how the tenant lives as long as they are not wrecking the house or causing a nuisance to neighbours and as long as the property is returned in the same state as it was let out (hence the deposit).

All the properties we have looked at have had no pets policy so we have had no choice but to accept them and they are few and far between in this area. From a tenants point of view, I actually think landlords are pretty selfish not me . After all I am paying their mortgage for them so why should I not be able to paint the walls a different colour or get a small dog, as long as the property is put back as it was??

We are responsible tenants thanks and had to sell our house due to me having a serious illness and having to stop work for over a year .

You know what - after reading your replies, I am definitely going to get one. If my landlord wants to evict someone who pays on time, keeps the house cleaner than it was when we moved in and have had no problems with the neighbours for the sake of us getting a small dog then more fool him!!

OP posts:
curiositykilled · 10/09/2009 19:17

I think this would be risky. If it's in your tenancy agreement and you break it you could be given notice and then be trying to find another house with a dog in tow which is nigh on impossible.

ginormoboobs · 10/09/2009 19:19

Snort You are a troll , aren't you? Real people would not think like this so you must be .

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 10/09/2009 19:21

YABU

It was your decision to rent.

Your kids won't suffer if they don't have a dog.

Where are you planning on getting a dog from?

Podrick · 10/09/2009 19:21

why did you ask if everyone agrees you are being totally unreasonable and you are going to ignore that opinion?

Are you prepared to be evicted because I think you should expect this as a result. My dad has a rental flat and I handle the lettings - I would advise him to evict anyone who didn't comply with the terms of the contract - and it is not likely to be a problem to find good tenants to replace you.

i would advise that you ask the landlord for permission and if it is not granted then you should move.

mmrsceptic · 10/09/2009 19:22

sorry for your troubles, but really, on this issue you are nuts

really, you are so wrong

DeFluffMyFanjo · 10/09/2009 19:22

God you're a great role model to your children aren't you? Don't know about you needing a dog, more like parenting classes.

curiositykilled · 10/09/2009 19:23

Landlords just don't want other people's dogs in their properties and for good reasons - damage to the property, annoyance of the neighbours e.t.c. Your dog might not damage the property or annoy the neighbours but he won't have any control over it and would be responsible if it did and if you're honest you can't guarantee that it absolutely wouldn't happen. I think you'd be mad to consider making your children homeless just for the sake of a pet you don't even have yet and then face the prospect of trying to find another rental that will allow dogs.

Original poster
WannaDoggie · 10/09/2009 19:23

Tell me what is so wrong in my way of thinking?

OP posts:
mmrsceptic · 10/09/2009 19:25

i think it's been said a few times

you signed something

you are bound by it

your moral position on tenancy and property ownership doesn't come into it

tinierclanger · 10/09/2009 19:26

What is wrong in your way of thinking?

Well, you signed an agreement.

  1. If you break it, you are in breach of contract.
  2. If you go back on it, you are a person who does not keep your word and cannot be trusted.

What kind of example is that to set your kids? It won't kill them not to have a dog.

Why don't you

a) ASK if you can have one, and if not, ASK if you can get an outside pet instead.

If not, too bad.

rubyslippers · 10/09/2009 19:26

OP - the chorus of YABUs is because you are

you get always have what you want - that is an important life lesson

your DCs lives will not be blighted because they don't have a dog

the landlord can do what he wants WRT a tenancy

he may be allergic for example

when he finds out you have a dog and he chucks you out, how will you explain that to your children? because that is what will happen

you are putting your children at risk of homelessness because you want a dog

florence2511 · 10/09/2009 19:27

You are being totally, and utterly unreaseasonable.

I am a landlady and when I look for tenants for my house I always tell the management company that I don't want pets of any kind and I don't want smokers.

If I wanted smelly dogs in my house I would have said so, but I don't. So, as the owner of the property I certainly don't expect my tenants to sneak in a pet.

If you are so desperate to get a dog, MOVE NOW. Do not, under any circumstances, get a dog in your current property.

Despite what 'some' dog owners say about their pets, dogs do smell and the smell lingers in the carpets and curtains. This is not something I would want in my property.

Gosh - some people.

BethNoire · 10/09/2009 19:29

We're not allowed a dog so much as I wuld love one (supposed to be good for SN kids) we don't have one.We did however ask and easily got permission for a cat- a good medium perhaps that you might consider?

Anyway imagine if you did get the dog and the tenancy ended for that reason or tohers- where would you find another landlord willing to take your pet if you couldn't get the first one to?

Ask about a cat. or a guinea pig. Most landlords IME are find with those and they are good enough for kids.

And everyone is right- it's not your house. It is your home but we all liove within sets of tules- when we owned (similar position to you) we had one lot of things to do- maintenance etc- and when now we dont we have oyher rules (but we're allowed to paint now we've asked, have you tried that?)

scottishmummy · 10/09/2009 19:32

you are wilful and want to breach clauses you dont like
you are considering breaching tenancy agreement for no good reason
potentially impulsive and impetuous behaviour which could terminate tenancy
as a role model to children it is poor precedent to set if you dont like rules, ah fuckit.
it isn't your home you are the tenant.so abide by rules

meemarsgotabrandnewbump · 10/09/2009 19:37

"Tell me what is so wrong in my way of thinking?"

When we moved into our rented house the previous owners had a dog. The place stunk.
For 6 months or more every time we hoovered the floor the house smelt of old dog.

Your landlord has the right to stipulate whether he wants this to happen to his house.

Incidentally, when we moved in there was a no pets clause in the new contract. So obviously he had changed his mind after the previous tenants with good reason.

purplepeony · 10/09/2009 19:38

OP says "they should not have a say in how the tenant lives as long as they are not wrecking the house or causing a nuisance to neighbours and as long as the property is returned in the same state as it was let out (hence the deposit)."

Utter, utter, twaddle. The deposit - which I bet is under £1K - would not re-carpet the house, replace chewed kitchen units ( my brother's puppy did that), replace peed-on furniture , relandscape a knackered lawn, not to mention possible dog faeces left in the soil, etc etc.

Are you just plain dim, or plain selfish?

The landlord can do WHAT THE HELL THEY LIKE! It's their house, not yours. what an attitude, where you show so little respect for someone else's home.

It seems you are hell bent on breaking your tenancy- well, go ahead teach your kids how to be a responsible person, abide by the rules, and I hope you all get evicted.

You aren't worth wasting time on.

Romanarama · 10/09/2009 19:41

I agree with the OP that the issue is whether you'll rectify damage. Ask the landlord. If you have carpets and curtains that belong to him or furniture, then he may want you to replace all that when you leave if you get a dog, and it might not be financially viable for you.

I'd ask. Why would he evict you and risk leaving the property empty if you're good tenants and undertake to rectify any damage?

(We rent and want a dog, and negotiated this with the landlord before moving in. I thought he was very fussy considering the house is completely unfurnished, all hardwood floors, rather old and unrestored. There isn't much that belongs to him that a dog could damage, and we have to rectify all damage anyway. Apart from which my sons will be infinitely more destructive than this hypothetical dog.)

scottishmummy · 10/09/2009 19:41

the property is the landlord's asset,not your home to do with what you wish

no pets are common clauses for good reason dogs have an odour,they cast hair - they decrease the marketability of the home.
decreased marketability potentially means less viewings tenants.

purplepeony · 10/09/2009 19:47

roma- which landlord wants the hassle of getting £££s out of a tenant to replace anything damaged, beyond what would be covered by a deposit?

You are being very short-sighted- most people who rent do so because they are short of cash- not always, I know. So why would any landlord make a rod for his own back by trying to claw back money to replace things in the house- and have all the hassle of refurbishing it?

If he was in a position where he couldn't rent out he house because everyone wanted a pet, sure, but he isn't is he, as most people do not want a house that has signs of other people's pets in it!

When we bought this house we were bitten to death by fleas living in the carpets for ages from the previous owners cats.

Mutt · 10/09/2009 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flowerybeanbag · 10/09/2009 19:49

Why should you be able to 'live as you please' in someone else's house? You are not paying their mortgage for them as a favour for which they should be ever so grateful and let you do whatever you like!

Not everyone can have everything they want in life, lots of children want a dog and can't have one for a variety of reasons.

You say "If my landlord wants to evict someone who pays on time, keeps the house cleaner than it was when we moved in and have had no problems with the neighbours for the sake of us getting a small dog then more fool him!! "

Well not really more fool him is it? Why is he the fool? Are tenants so hard to come by? I think you'd be the fool risking getting your children evicted from their home for the sake of a dog tbh.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 10/09/2009 19:51

Of course you should ask them first. They may agree.

You forget though, that chances are, as landlords, they are probably going to try and screw you for as much of your deposit as they can so I guess you might want to just enjoy wit while you can.

purplepeony · 10/09/2009 19:52

OP-
there is no logical connection between your two statements "we are paying a lot of money" and "we can do as we please". None. At. All.

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