Landlords - would you rent to someone with a small dog?

[Kitsmummy]

Hi, it looks like I'm going to have to sell up and rent in the next year. My mum will have my cat, but I'll have my small dog who I'll need to keep with me.

It would be me, two kids (5 and 10) and the pug. I work part time as a secretary and we'd be a nice, well presented family looking to rent in a nice area.

Although I won't have a big income I'll have a big wedge of cash in the bank and plenty of income in the form of maintenance and tax credits, so affordability is not an issue at all, although "salary" might not be too impressive on paper. I'd also be willing to put a much bigger deposit down because of the dog.

However, can you tell me if I'm going to struggle getting a rental because of the dog? (the dog wouldn't be at home on my working days, she'd be with my mum). thanks

I am a landlady. And I would still say no to any pets. Really sorry. I have pets myself too. Just had too many bad experiences with pets and children messing up. Problem us that every single potential tenant will absolutely tell you the pet is no problem, regardless of whether it is or not. And if is impossible to know until it is too late. Although I would be more inclined to let my house to someone with a dog than a cat. Recently bought a house which cost thousands to replace carpets as the cat tagged up the entire place with its claws. Some landlords would be fine - bit I think that us when they do not really care about the property and do not keep the property in a nice state for their tenants. My property is always immaculate for tenants. I really hope you find somewhere though. This is only my one view and I am sure other landlords may not bother about a dog.

DH and I have a cat and I thought it was going to be a massive issue trying to find a nice private rent house in a nice area etc. but it wasn't at all. If I saw a letting which said 'no pets' I just went on to the next and actually most of them didn't say that so when I inquired I just asked if they'd accept a cat and all of them said yes I didn't even have to pay a higher deposit, either. I know that a dog is generally considered to be more of a risk to L/L's than a cat (don't know why as cats can be very destructive!) but I'm sure you'll find a L/L that's happy to let to you in your circumstances.

I am a landlady and my tenants have a dog. Admittedly, the tenants didn't have the dog when they moved in but asked if they could get one after they had been in the house for two years. I agreed because they made promises to look after the house. Unfortunately, my agent has just reported from his latest inspection that the front door is heavily scratched on the inside which the tenant confirmed was caused by the dog. I do care very much for my property and although I won't be able to do anything about this dog, I would think twice about allowing pets in future.

I rent property out to tenants with dogs. I'd say no to a bastarding pug though

I had three (lost two at Christmas), and they are vile dribbling incontinent chronically malting gits!

There's usually a clause in the contract that says you have to professionally clean the accommodation at end of tenancy.

Deposit will cover any other issues and is normally higher for people with a pet.

I've rented out a house with a dog and then two cats. Not had a problem afterwards.

possibly - you've covered one of the big concerns, which is the barking when left alone.

would also need higher deposit, clauses to replace anything wrecked by chewing/excretion and commitment not to leave the garden full of dog crap.

I agree that I also thought cats were less trouble, and learned the hard way!

Yes we do let our rental property to people with dogs and cats.
Can't see what the problem is myself. we are dog lovers and would hate to think of a dog having to be re-homed or whatever.
We always have a queue of tenants anyway, so it's not as if we're desparate or anything.
our property is always immaculate when we re-let it too.

Aww we have rented with our cats and they haven't destroyed the house.

Had a good go at their scratching post instead.

Great, thank you for all your opinions, sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult

Awww Grace, how can you be so nasty about that cute little fatty!

I am a landlord and our tenants have a staffie. We rent the place unfurnished and have hard floors downstairs. We worded it as 'pets may be permitted subject to prior agreement' so we said no to the one with 5 cats and 4 dogs .

Over the years we have learnt the hard way and always say no to pets.Have pets ourselves, feel awful about it, but its cost us £000s over the years....

We rent and we have two big boxers.

We paid extra deposit and agreed to repair any damage/have a professional clean at the end of the tenancy.

We've been here six years and the dogs have not done one bit of damage anywhere because they are lazy critters who sleep all the time

My houses are no pets. I did allow a hamster for a child though. If anyone moved in with a dog or cat, when the tenancy agreement says no animals and they had not mentioned it to the Agents, the tenant would be given notice. You cannot sneak an animal in! You cannot get one and pretend it does not exist either!

I think country rentals might be more likely to accept pets. Friends of mine had a lot of problems as many smarter places do not accept pets. Just be honest and I am sure you will find somewhere.

When our house sold we had to find a rental while we bought somewhere.
We are renting in Cambridge so huge competition for property. Find an agent that has rentals advertised with pets. What we did. They then would ask landlords if they were happy for dog even if it says no. Some agents were awful to us and said no way would we find anywhere to take our dog.
We paid month and half deposit - not sure if that's normal it's our first rental? And we said we'd professionally clean carpets. Annoyingly it's all carpet. Doors are not great either. That cheap wood board that are hollow and scuff so easily... So our dog has annoying marked them.
Shouldn't cost the landlord though - I don't get those comments... It surely comes out of the deposit any damage caused??

it does come out of the deposit, but if there is serious wreckage beyond the amount of the deposit, there is no further source of money to repair it.

six weeks is the standard deposit now.

houses are not designed to be dog proof and it presumably was fully carpeted when you viewed.

I prefer to let to people with pets, than people with kids if I'm honest. As log as the terms are set out in the tenancy agreement first. My current tenant has 2 cats and I don't have a problem with them at all.

We haven't had a problem renting with our medium sized dog. We pay an extra deposit and our present home has laminate flooring throughout, even bedrooms although the dog isn't allowed upstairs which we made clear at the start.

We didn't tell the agent until she'd met us and we'd seen the property so she could see we were a reasonable, professional couple with an excellent reference from our previous landlord who we'd been with for six years.
they did reject the people who wanted the house before us but they did have four small children 3 dogs and four cats so I don't think they were totally unreasonable there.

We are planning on having the property professionally deep cleaned every six months or so to prevent us having such a stressful time when we move out, not sure if that's something that would impress Landlords?

not a matter of impressing, just a matter of showing that your animal is trained and supervised not to cause damage or disturbance.

I viewed some houses where there were mysterious stairgates but no sign of kids; turned out that there was a dog. No smell, no hair, no scratching. It can be done.

like everything; a matter of discussion and circumstance.