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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:
junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:03

I have a right to keep my family together, pets and all!!! Answer me, are my human rights less because I'm not rich enough to own a home? NASTY

mmrsceptic · 11/09/2009 17:05

I am not surprised to hear stories of bad landlords, I think this thread is due for a couple, as all we've had so far is people who aren't allowed a dog.

I do accept there are bad landlords.

But I wouldn't pay a deposit until after my tenants had moved out. That's the point of a deposit, and the inventory is done after move out. I understand your problem, that that would be your deposit for the next place then, and what do you do in between. As you say, "it might be costly" but the problem is not the landlord's fault. Each side has costs to bear.

Junglist sorry you feel so bitter. I don't think landlords are on a power jag though. They are being protective of something they worked v hard for, usually.

DeFluffMyFanjo · 11/09/2009 17:06

junglist1 - you're insane.

I don't rent out a house / houses. However, if I did I would stipulate no dogs, if you don't like that don't rent from me.

I also wouldn't rent to anyone like you or the op because your attitudes are nasty and dishonest.

mmrsceptic · 11/09/2009 17:07

"human rights" to own a dog?

eh? is your world view so limited?

totally lost sympathy now

mmrsceptic · 11/09/2009 17:08

what about your responsibilities Junglist?

don't you think you have any?

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:08

It's mostly letting agents. Most landlords, even if they found out after, would overlook it if the place was kept nice. IME anyway.

DeFluffMyFanjo · 11/09/2009 17:09

And why do you keep saying you're 'poor' and 'can't afford' a house?

If you're paying 1250 a month rent jesus thats twice my mortgage! Perhaps try saving up and then buying your own house? If you have that much money to pay in rent each month you're hardly 'poor' are you???

HecatesTwopenceworth · 11/09/2009 17:09

junglist. Why are you mad at the "YABU" responses?

The OP has a tenancy agreement that prohibits pets.

The OP is on about getting a pet anyway.

This has the potential to result in her being evicted.

If so, she will have made her children homeless for the sake of a dog.

The council would consider it "intentionally homeless" so wouldn't house them.

I don't think there is anything in the responses to get angry about. It would be a foolish thing to do.

Maybe she should be allowed a pet. Maybe it's unfair that many tenants aren't allowed pets. But the fact remains - she isn't allowed a pet and that's what makes her unreasonable. The risk she is taking with the roof over her head.

I don't see why you are angry that people are pointing that out to her!

preciouslillywhite · 11/09/2009 17:09

Where I live there are loads of Buy To Lets. Am pretty sure that most of the tenancy agreements are of a standard eg no noise, quiet enjoyment, pay your rent on time, no pets yik yak yik yak...but as far as i can tell some BTL Landlords couldn't give a shit about what tenants get up to in their properties, as long as they get their money every month.There are properties with noise nuisance problems (and worse) which the LLs couldn't care less about- after all, they only affect the neighbours, not the landlords themselves.

It does seem as tho there are two kinds of landlords (conscientious,scrupulous/greedy bastards) and two kinds of tenants (conscientious, scrupulous/ naughty, feckless, devil-may-care ne'er do wells). If you have Landlord Type B here then I would just go ahead, get a dog and make sure you steam clean after you leave, cos the LL will screw you for every last penny of your deposit. And then have an all night party on the roof

(you're not the anarcho punk crusties living in the house backing onto my garden, are you?)

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:12

I have a right to keep my pets. I have the right not to break my childrens hearts by giving their pets away. I am teaching my children animals aren't garbage you can just throw away. That's my responsibilities.
Like I said I tried being honest and was met by robots time and time again. So I gave up. My family is still together. I'm glad some of you are teaching your children it's Ok to get pets then fuck them off.

DailyMailNameChanger · 11/09/2009 17:14

Junglist, put simply you are paying £1250 per month to live in a house under the rules as set out in your tenacy agreement. If you do not like the rules in an agreement then you challenge them before you sign it or do not live in that house. The fact that you pay out rent does not give you the right to ignore the rules.

Those here who own their houses with a mortgage have to follow the rules set out by the mortgage company, even those who own outright have to follow rules set by the local authority, the government (who are suggesting people should not even smoke in their own homes at the moment, never mind have a dog in a rented house). We all live within certain rules, get over it.

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:14

Hecates in my case it's different because I've had my dogs for years. I wouldn't get one in a place that said no pets I already had them. I'm mad because of frustration, I don't like the attitude of the thread overall

happywomble · 11/09/2009 17:16

YABU -

There are various issues around having pets, such as the noise of the dog barking, accidental damage to sofas etc so it is not unreasonable of your landlord to say no pets.

Even when one owns a property there are certain restrictions. In our road we can not have a visible TV ariel and therefore no one can have satellite TV. We can not keep chickens in our garden, we can only have domestic pets.

It is important to read the small print when buying or renting a property. If you are renting you should abide by the contract or move. The landlord also has to abide by the rules.

We used to let a place and listed it as no smoking. We were very cross to find the tenant did end up smoking in the flat. As a result the flat needed repainting and the furnishings smelt of smoke.

Think how you would feel if you were letting a place and the tenant ignored the agreement.

If you want a dog surely there are some rental properties available that accept dogs. Otherwise you could write to the landlord explaining that you have read the agreement but are wondering if he/she would consider accepting a well behaved dog.(contract addendum would then be signed) But it would be wrong to get a dog without permission.

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:17

My student loans cover my rent, I'm left with just CTC and child benefit to live on. That's poor. But that's London for you. As I'm a student, I can't get a mortgage.

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:20

And if I am insane it's because of the complete unfairness that's all around. So I don't disagree with your diagnosis

florence2511 · 11/09/2009 17:20

"I'm glad some of you are teaching your children it's Ok to get pets then fuck them off"

Junglist - if you were to read the post you would see that the op doesn't have a dog yet. She is thinking of getting one. So no dog gets to get tell a pet to fuck off. THERE IS NO ANIMAL TO BEGIN WITH.

Read the post before shouting your mouth off.

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:24

It's hard to concentrate when you're on fire

DeFluffMyFanjo · 11/09/2009 17:24

Ok now Im intrigued - a student loan covers rent of £15,000 a year? Bloody hell, get me one of those.

Seriously, I take it you have to pay it back? How do you get a student loan that big? Whats the interest rate (seriously nosey now).

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:26

Sorry florence your caps made me laugh. I'm not a loon, honest!

DeFluffMyFanjo · 11/09/2009 17:26

And, sorry but just to add, you can't get a mortgage because you're a student? Well you chose to be a student rather than say working and studying by OU or at night school. So you made the choices that led to you living in rented rather than buying, no one on this thread made them for you.

BethNoire · 11/09/2009 17:27

'If you're paying 1250 a month rent jesus thats twice my mortgage! Perhaps try saving up and then buying your own house? If you have that much money to pay in rent each month you're hardly 'poor' are you??? '

Erm you can't save becuase you are paying all your money in rent.

It's a circlular thing really. And what amount rent is is soooooo variable; most people would be jealous of our £600 pcm rent, but its high for here, our income barely coveres it and HB sets their limit at £420.

C'est la vie. Thank goodness we don't get HB (I say thank goodness, I meana rrghhhas they lost the forms so said we didnt qualify due to a time out clause P{MSL. But better to laugh than die crying)

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:28

I get 4K every 3 months, during summer I get HB. Because I'm single I get learning allowance for books and travel so I can just about manage.

BethNoire · 11/09/2009 17:29

Not everyone ame those choices Fanjo; we're in rented becuase I can't work as I am a carer. There'sno choice invovled.

You don't know what Junglist'sposition is- DH went back to Uni becuase he was amde redundant and coudln't find another job, again not a choice as much as desperation.

You seem to be feeling rather aggressive. Whereas this is the truth:

There are good landlords. there are terrible ones who should be prosecuted for cruelty. There are good tenants. There are terrible ones who leave a trail of destruction. There are rules we don't like. We shoudln't complain until we have asked if there is any discretion.

And there are pets available that don't go woof and eat the carpet.

junglist1 · 11/09/2009 17:30

But, BUT, even if I worked I wouldn't have been able to get a mortgage because I wouldn't have been qualified to earn enough. After my degree it might be different. Then watch the amount of pets I'll have!

DeFluffMyFanjo · 11/09/2009 17:32

bethnoire - i get that you're paying money in rent and therefore cant save, i suppose im saying can't you find a house that doesnt cost that much to rent? or a smaller house? or get a lodger? 1250 is a ridiculous amount of money for rent.

note - i dont live in london so perhaps thats normal there.

anyway back to the dog

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