Would you tell new potential landlord you’re pregnant ?

[Kt1704]

Hi ladies. Just need some general opinions
im 13 weeks pregnant with twins
we are looking for a new flat to rent and need to secure one asap as already gave current landlord our notice
Today we viewed a flat we love and want to put an offer in
we asked the estate agent if the landlord minds families - she said she would prefer no children as would like to keep the flat upstairs she also rents out happy with noise etc (It is an old Victoria style house so I’m sure there isn’t much noise going from each flat)
estate agent basically said of course she won’t kick you out if you fall pregnant in the flat
so the moving date will be beginning of October when I’ll be 20 weeks and for sure I won’t be able to hide it with twins haha
I wouldn’t want to start the tenancy contract on a lie? Should I mention I’m pregnant and there will be children very soon in the flat?
we want to stay there for 2 years or more
we really prefer to be on good terms with our landlord so her seeing us move in at 20 weeks fully pregnant she may be shocked

also bare in mind our annual salaries combined is very good.. more then 4 times the rent yearly which im sure she’ll be over the moon about
and she will be able to see we are long committed tenants as we’ve been in current flat 5 year and flat before 3 years

Personally I would tell them, just because I’d feel awkward not saying and then moving in obviously pregnant. I’d also rather just know in advance if it would be a problem rather than get moved in and settled and then have the landlord find an excuse to activate a break clause or not renew the tenancy etc and have to find somewhere else with 2 newborns x

@Mrsttcno1 I deffo agree with you. I think I’ll be more stressed ‘hiding’ it haha. We have to send an offer email over the weekend with our salaries etc. would you mention it in that email, or after they accept our offer ? X

As you would be 20w by move in date I think you cannot really hide your pregnancy.

I’d just mention it in the email, give all the info and see what happens. If they don’t want babies there I’d rather know while pregnant rather than try to organise a move with two babies x

@Olika Of course, I’m not trying to hide it. I was just in two minds weather to mention it when we put an offer to rent

@Mrsttcno1 Yes okay. I’ll put as much info as possible to show we are secure decent tenants, then mention at the end we are expecting. Thanks x

Would the landlord not be discriminating against you for reasons of pregnancy which is against the law?

Obviously you'd find this difficult to prove when they "suddenly" find another tenant who just happens to be a better fit, but they aren't legally allowed to use the fact of your pregnancy as a reason not to rent to you.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/landlord_agent_discrimination

I wouldn’t mention it. Will you even see the landlord when your 20 wks? Often it’s all done through the agent. And if the agent suspects you’re pregnant she probably wouldn’t say anything. It’s in her best interest to keep shctum. If you mention it now and say it’s twins, they may just keep it on the market a bit longer and wait till a single person comes along opposed to 4 people, two of which will be screaming through the night. By October they won’t want to start the rigmarole of getting someone new.

I cannot understand why on earth you would tell the landlord. That is bizarre. No I would not share this unnecessary information with the LL.

@Moveoverdarlin Yes true. I did say to the estate agent we was trying for a child soon. And she didn’t seemed bothered and basically said you don’t need to tell the landlord that, ‘she’s not going to kick you out if you fall pregnant’ But I just know when I move in at 20 weeks I’ll be massive and if the landlord does come to see us she may be shocked haha and I wouldn’t want her to dislike us or so

@Educationexpert Okay thank you. I was just in two minds as don’t want any awkward encounters when we move in at 20 weeks

@Kt1704

Congratulations!!

Will you be able to still afford it when you are either a SAHM or paying 2x childcare fees??

if you will crack on, personally I'd tell them because I'd hate to be worried about them evicting me after the hassle of moving,

id also consider the stress of worrying about the other tenants once the babies arrive, sound will definitely travel & knowing she wanted 'no children' because if her other tenants would stress me out too much.

id find somewhere else.

I wouldnt

Appalling that you even have to worry about it OP, I mean the housing situation in this country is just dreadful. It’s none of of their business is it!

Do not tell them. There’s no benefit for you in doing so.

I wouldn't mention it, your personal life is none of her business OP!

thank you ladies!!!! I think I’m just too nice and a honest person. I feel awkward haha. My partner also agrees to not say a thing. We just HATE moving and like to make the place our home so wouldn’t want to move again if the landlord didn’t want us with the children after 12 month contract

It's sneaky if you let them a accept your offer and then tell them about your pregnancy. Be upfront with them, otherwise you begin a new start with basically a lie, and why would a landlord trust you going forward? I know I wouldn't.

I don't think you should tell the LL, however, I wouldn't underestimate the noise travel in a converted house (if that matters to you).

Don't tell them. Your a woman of childbearing age of course theres a chance you want children/are currently pregnant or already have had them?
Non of their business at all. You could just stay out of the way until your fully moved in, then just get on with your normal routine.
It's insane you have to even think about this in 2024.

Hope your pregnancy is going well (I'm a twin mum and know how hard it can be! Normal day to day stuff is hard going let alone moving house!)

I wouldn't mention it. We moved into a 2 bedroom rental flat with a toddler and I was pregnant but not showing with my 2nd. The flat actually had a very small 3rd bedroom but the landlord had mentioned that she only advertised it as a 2 bedroom to appeal to a "specific demographic" which I can only assume meant couples or small families. Anyway, never mentioned anything and saw them at the 1 year inspection with a baby and they didn't have raise any problems. We looked after the flat, paid the rent and were considerate of the neighbours, things that are much more important than how many children there are.

If you like the flat don’t say anything - you probably won’t even see the landlord

I don't think the pregnancy is the issue but potential noise complaints could be. Would you be prepared to move as soon as there's a break clause in the lease that could be exercised by the landlord? They might opt to do that if things get noisy. That would be my concern, not pregnancy discrimination.

Your landlord wants to discriminate you.

@BeretInParis True. Would noise travel that much though? Well with twins probably 😂 it’s very big old style house with high ceilings, I also have access to the garden so I’m sure upstairs already know the garden will be in use. Upstairs is a couple who are renting 2 bedrooms so potentially they could be planning a family too! Haha.

@RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy true also. When we moved into our current flat we didn’t meet the landlord until months in when we had the boiler break he popped round. The estate agent didn’t seemed bothered when I mentioned family, she also sent me a text now to ask for offer email to be sent over the weekend as money landlord is checking offers. If she didn’t like us I’m sure she wouldn’t have texted again!