Telling your landlord you're pregnant...

[Mumtobe18]

Hi there. I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and I really like the flat I am currently renting. However I don't know if I have to inform my landlord that I am pregnant or not. My contract doesn't say anything about children. And my year contract will be just in time to be renewed the month before I am giving birth... I don't whant them to find out (if they visit the flat as they have the right to do) just before I am due and then they don't want to renew the contract for next year. What do you think I should do? Any opinions will be very much appreciated.

I don't know the answer, it's quite a while since I rented, but I'm shocked at the idea that you could be (essentially) kicked out for being pregnant.

So have a thread bump.

Why would you tell your landlord you are pregnant? It's none of their business.

I didn't tell mine but we live next door to his mum. I'm sure he knows but I wouldn't go out of my way to tell him.

Landlords love families! You're more of an asset with kids. They know you're responsible and will look after the place.

I'd say tell people on a need to know basis. Your landlord doesn't need to know. All that matters is you stick to the terms of the contract - pay rent on time, leave the property in good condition, whatever else it says. I wouldn't mention it. I would assume you'll get sufficient notice to have a quick tidy up if they want to inspect before renewing your contract. Better to have them do the inspection 1 month before due date when everything's looking all perfect in anticipation of baby's arrival than 1 month after due date when things might look a bit different!

I didn't tell mine when we were renting, she was shocked when she found out and told me several times she doesn't like kids but it was fine!

As a landlord myself and also pregnant I can see this from both sides.

The pregnant side of me says it is none of anyone's business.

The landlord side of my says I would want to know, but it is in our tenants contract who is registered to live there and they need to request permission for any changes (I thought this was standard in tenancy agreements to prevent subletting etc).

To the previous poster who said that landlords will love families, not necessarily. I think if anything, unless they're on benefits so will be receiving more by having kids, the kid will take up more money, meaning less money available for the rent. It also means there is more risk of damage to the property. Sick/poo on carpets (and furniture if it is furnished) possible damage to walls if stair gates need to be screwed in. Damage to walls if when the baby turns to a toddler decides to draw on them. Damage to kitchen cabinets if child locks are used that need to be screwed. Damage and scuffs to walls, doors and skirting boards from pram.

It also means that if for any reason the landlord needs/wants the property back in the future (e.g to sell for financial reasons) I think it would be harder to evict a family with a baby.

I'm not condoning it, as our tenants have a kid and a dog and we are happy with that, but I can see why some landlords might be unsure.

In short, I'd just tell them. It's best not try and keep secrets form your landlord, especially if you know they will find out eventually. Honesty is the best policy and all that. Providing they have been generally decent landlords so far, the flat is suitable for a baby (which I assume it must be, or I guess you would have wanted to leave anyway) and they haven't given any indication that children would not be welcome (e.g in the tenancy agreement) I don't think you will have anything to worry about.

I'm a landlord and wouldn't expect my tenant to tell me.

he landlord side of my says I would want to know, but it is in our tenants contract who is registered to live there and they need to request permission for any changes (I thought this was standard in tenancy agreements to prevent subletting etc)

Children do not need to be registered in a property. They do not need to request your permission to have a baby, I don't care what you put in your contract, its not legally enforceable.

I'm assuming the OP is worried that when her contact comes up for renewal, she will obviously be pregnant and if the LL or agent come to view the property prior to signing a new contract they will see that she is. They then could choose to not renew the contract.

If the landlord hasn't mentioned children, I would assume it isn't a problem. Usually landlords are pretty upfront when they advertise etc for a new tenant. However, they can't throw you out mid contract so I'd wait until you are telling people about your pregnancy then ask the LL if this will be a problem for them. If it is, at least you'll have plenty of time to organise something else rather than find out at the last minute while heavily pregnant.

It's in our contract that children cannot live here without permission so I assume it would be fine if yours says nothing.

No you don't. Unless it's on the lease no children. And I don't even know if that's legal. But it might be on short term or holiday lets.

It really isn't any of their business and you have no obligation to tell them. Neither should they expect you to tell them: your relationship is defined by your contract and children have no bearing on that (and certainly they can't discriminate against you on the basis that they - think - you might not be able to pay rent because said child....). You have rented their place - it's yours to live your life in (within certain parameters)....

Check the law. Where I live, it's housing discrimination to deny housing to pregnant people or people with kids.

The only reason why you might need to bring it up is if you want to make some fundamental alterations to the property because of your child. I can't think what those might be... but then you need to seek permission if it's a standard assured tenancy agreement....

I was renting privately. Told my landlord when I was 4 months pregnant, as an FYI really, as he was nice and I didn't want him to suddenly find a baby if he came to fix something.
After the baby arrived he put the rent up!! But other than that it was OK; we stayed for another year then left...

I'd only tell them if they were the father

The landlord can choose to not renew the contract for any reason. They might not tell you the real reason but they can still choose to not renew it. I'd rather know ahead of time that it was going to be a problem.

I couldn't tell you which if my tenants have children

We told our landlord as we felt they had a right to know about a new occupant in their house.
Ours were lovely though and we knew it wouldn't be a problem for them. Not sure what I'd do if that weren't nice, probably just not tell them.

When I was last renting it was in the contract that if we were to have any other adults OR children reside permanently in the property we had to request permission (to not be unreasonably denied). Always tickled me that the wording was so unclear (I suppose OP your baby will be residing in the property now?!) but never tested it. Has the LL been ok until now?

Thank you for asking, was wondering the same.

The landlord can choose to not renew the contract for any reason. They might not tell you the real reason but they can still choose to not renew it. I'd rather know ahead of time that it was going to be a problem.

I agree.

Had a friend who works as a lettings agent, he checked through my tenancy agreement before signing.

I was scared as I've read so many horror stories of landlords evicting upon a pregnancy announcement. But what do landlords expect when they let a family home to a young married couple?

Pregnant with my first, not announced it, don't plan to.