Defining the word "pet"

[Animallover121]

Hi all,

I'm new to mumsnet but have been told how helpful, smart and kind understand are with their advice.

The sitation is this..... I moved into a purpose built block of flats and live on the first floor. As a dog lover I decided to subscribe to a website called borrow my doggy where I can walk other peoples dogs. It started off with walking one dog a week for an hour and I now walk 5 dogs a week. As I built rapport up with the owners, they asked if I would have them overnight occasionally which I do and love the company. 1 dog stays on Thursday and Friday and another on Saturday. They bark once in a blue moon. There small very well behaved dogs.

I have recently received an email from the estate agent stating i can no longer have pets in the flat as it is written in the head lease (which I have never seen a copy of).

The landlord would agree to me having the dogs here but I'm at loggerheads with the managing agents.

I have mental health and having them around me means so much. Whilst I could just walk them and not have them overnight I feel it just wouldn't be the same.

I guess what I'm asking is; is borrowing a dog and having them overnight defined as having a pet?

Any help/advice would be great.

Thank you for reading my post.

They are a pet animal even if they are not your pets unfortunately. The reason they say pet rather than animal is because service animals would be allowed.

Thank you for your reply 'hellocatshome' (even of it wasn't the answer I wanted to hear 🥲)

So very disappointing 😞

Pets have names. Livestock don't.

Thanks Mrs Toasty. That makes sense. I'm trying to think of an angle which would allow me to have the dogs overnight but my options seem to be getting slimmer by the minute

I would read it as no animals in the flat at any time.
You could still walk take them out for the day though.

Thanks Kit. I guess that's the direction it's heading. Not the same as snuggling up to them at night though. I'll miss that. Maybe I should get a partner.....😂

If you are keeping them overnight, you are having a pet in the flat. It doesn’t matter who ultimately owns the dog, if your flat says no pets and you have pets staying, you’re breaking the rental agreement. There isn’t any wiggle room there.

I empathise - we bought our pets within 10 days of buying our own home because we’d waited so long.

I'm glad to hear you finally got your pets that you had waited for. So upsetting. They are so cute and adogable. I guess I'm just going to have to hold my hands up and accept it... 🐾

If the landlord is happy with you having pets what's the problem? why are the agents being obstructive? Agents are - you know- agents -ie. act for a principle. It's all about the principles decisions.

I live in a block and the 'head lease' states that no pets are allowed in the building

Update...

They have agreed to let visiting pets come for the day but not to stay overnight.

Thank you to all for your help.