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Original poster

Tenant wants to get a pet

73 replies

AiryFairy1 · 27/05/2019 08:58

I hope I’m posting in the right place, there doesn’t seem to be a letting property section.
They’ve been in the property just under 2 months of a 2 year tenancy and have said they would like to adopt a small-medium dog, that will be properly trained etc.
If relevant, property is a 4 bed terrace with a small-medium garden, with 2 adult tenants.

I guess I’d like to know if they have rights, if I have rights and how do we go about adding a clause to the TA retrospectively to cover it, if they were to go ahead?
Thanks.

OP posts:
Grumpymug · 27/05/2019 10:28

Not shocked at some of responses and attitudes towards tenants. Neither side is doing the other a favour when it comes to rented property, and it's coming across as landlords think they are, and think they're somehow better than their tenants. Pretty depressing for a renter who's always treated properties and landlords with respect.
Anyway, in your situation I'd maybe say you'd prefer to wait another 8 months so they've been in a year, and you'll have a better idea of their reliability then. Think that's fair on all, and also look into changing the tenancy agreement so it includes your permission to have a pet and includes a proviso about any damages the pet does being put right before they leave. I've done this is the past as a tenant and it's worked. I do think it's unfair to just say a blanket no, without any consideration. They don't have the right to mess the property up with an animal, but maybe be treated like a normal member of society and given a chance to have something that isn't really that unusual for people to have, and enjoy their lives?

Hoppinggreen · 27/05/2019 10:32

I wouldn’t
I used to own a flat and my tenants asked if they could get a guinea pig. I said yes and they ended up with about 10 of the bloody things. Smelt awful
Long term tenants who I knew were good tenants I might consider it (certainly not a puppy though - had one of those) but 2 months in no way

Lindy2 · 27/05/2019 11:09

I agree with LIZS. There's a good chance pup is already there.
It would be worth a visit to check and to see how they are settling in.

longearedbat · 27/05/2019 11:24

Are either of them at home all day? If not, a puppy is out of the question really. Puppies need someone with them most of the time while they are tiny. An unsupervised puppy pees/poos everywhere. Even if they work from home it's quite a job looking after one while you are trying to work. A rescue could be worse, but no reputable rescue would re home a dog where the owners would be out at work all day anyway.
I would say no for now. It's your decision btw, not theirs!

Veterinari · 27/05/2019 12:04

Are either of them at home all day?

Whilst I agree that from a welfare point of view a puppy shouldn’t be left, it’s not really a landlord’s role to decide if a tenant’s working pattern or attitude is responsible enough to own a pet. A lot of you sound incredibly controlling!

Either you allow pets in the house or you don't but if you’re wanting long term tenants you usually have to make some allowances to allow grown adults to live their own lives. Otherwise they’ll just move out.

NewName54321 · 27/05/2019 12:04

They seem, from what you say, quite clear on the description of the dog, so it's likely they already have it, either at your property already or someone has been looking after it for a couple of months before they could get round to asking you.

If you say "No", then they need to know that you'll be checking at your inspections that they have actually kept to this, and are prepared to take action if they haven’t, otherwise they'll possibly do it anyway.

As far as the Tenancy Agreement and the law goes, if you don't understand it you need to seek proper advice IRL.

Hoppinggreen · 27/05/2019 12:06

I don’t think the puppies welfare is the issue for a LL either, apart from the fact that a puppy left alone is likely to cause damage

tashakg89 · 27/05/2019 12:17

Yes I think you should allow them to have a pet it's your house but it's there home and it's a normal thing to do. I've had pets all my life, dogs guinea pigs and rabbits and they've never caused any damage. I own my own home so I'm lucky I ca do what I like but I do feel
Sorry for private renters who can't do normal family things like this.

butteryellow · 27/05/2019 12:19

Do you rent furnished or unfurnished? Do you have carpets throughout? Is it all fresh and new? What feeling do you get from the tenants themselves?

I rent out my old house - but it doesn't have carpets (laminate/lino throughout), and I rent it out unfurnished. I've not had any issues when tenants have pets - in fact it's a great place for dogs as there are really nice walks all around. Having said that, my agents are also very good at selecting tenants, and the area my house is in is very much a family area rather than students or professionals, so the type of tenants I have are normally long term, either with a kid or planning them soon (at which point they move out, as the house isn't really big enough for more than 1 or two small children)

Trippedupagain · 27/05/2019 12:25

We rented a house for a while and it was incredibly difficult to get one that would allow our dog, so we were very grateful to our landlord when we finally found him. We had to pay an extra damage deposit because of the dog and also had to agree we would have all carpets steam cleaned when we went, at our expense and submit the receipt for that. We happily agreed and actually that seemed very fair. A puppy would be far worse, so it depends how much you want to keep your tenants happy. They won't find anywhere else that will allow a dog though, especially a puppy.

peetieswie · 27/05/2019 12:33

We let tenant move his boyfriend and boyfriends dog in. Dog is annoying and they don't walk it enough. My husband takes it out most weekends cos we feel sorry for it. They are good tenants though. Looking forward to not sharing our garden at some
Point soon though!

Original poster
AiryFairy1 · 27/05/2019 13:24

Some interesting points here - I do feel it is their home - they’ve been so excited to make it their home.
I’m leaning towards asking them to wait a few more months and I’ll take advice on possibly taking a puppy damage deposit.
To the poster who says I’m passive - fair comment! I’m quite inexperienced as a LL, as up to now the tenants I’ve had have never had any “off-piste” requests. So I’m very grateful to all responses. I may be back!

OP posts:
aweedropofsancerre · 27/05/2019 13:34

AiryFairy1 I hated being a landlord. Was very happy when I finally sold my flat. The previous tenant left it in a state and hadn’t paid his bills for months so I was getting debt collectors letters! Awful..... for those on here saying tenants are treated badly and it’s there home. It really depends on whether you are letting for years rather than months. my Oh has had the same tenant for over 15yrs. He has been a good tenant, he is now on housing benefit but we didn’t mind supporting him when he couldn’t pay for a few months. We have allowed him to decorate it and make it his home. We have only upped the rent once and we could get a lot more for it but he is a good tenant. He has never asked for a pet and I would be loathe to say yes as the property is a terrace converted into 4 flats and ours is at the top. I would be worried about complaints with barking etc...if it was a house I might have a different view . Your tenants have only been there for two months not 15yrs so it’s down to you!

jackparlabane · 27/05/2019 13:40

I'd talk to them - does one of them work from home, for example?

If they have a dog, they know it will be hard to rent anywhere and are likely to stay until they can afford to buy somewhere - which may suit you well. On the other hand, have they had a dog before and know what they are getting into? If not then that screams of potential trouble.

The best tenants I've had advertised themselves and dogs looking for a place. I figured Amtico floor was dog-resistant, and agreed but didn't replace the bedroom carpet which I would hae done otherwise. I specified in the lease that the two named dogs only were allowed, with photos, so they couldn't be replaced with huge creatures.

JonestheMail · 27/05/2019 13:54

I think the cap on deposits at five weeks rent is likely to result in many landlords refusing to allow pets at all and you can see why.

Under the current law many landlords have agreed pets in exchange for a larger deposit (and I have done that myself as a renter with pets in the past). The chances of finding a landlord who will permit multiple pets have just gone down to zero.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 27/05/2019 14:08

I’m a private tenant with pets (all permitted) I wouldn’t allow this at this stage. Theyve only been renting the property for 2 months, that’s not long enough to know how well they take care of the property. I would say no now with an option of revisiting the situation after a year that would include two inspections in that period.

Shmithecat2 · 27/05/2019 14:15

Wow. Some of you are really irresponsible pet owners. I rented a few properties over 15 years and my cats have never caused any damage. My mum has 2 dogs, and they haven't made her walls dirty or chewed through the skirting board... Hmm

mumwon · 27/05/2019 14:20

I thought you couldn't charge extra deposit for pets? & isn't the max 5 weeks now? this article is out of date in mydeposit because it suggests 6 weeks!

freshstartnewme · 27/05/2019 14:28

Don't do this. They have been in less than 2 months and already want to bring an animal. The problem with animals is that even if you had known your tenants 30 years, animals are unpredictable. Some of them leave very little evidence of their existence and some of them chew everything in sight, which includes doors etc.

madcatladyforever · 27/05/2019 14:31

I wouildn't allow a dog, a puppy will take ages to housetrain and will poo everywhere, where are they going to put it during the day?
Also puppies chew everything, carpets furniture, wooden doors.
With the best will in the world pets can destroy a home in no time. My cat has completely destroyed my stair carpet which I will have to replace.

RainbowWaffles · 27/05/2019 14:39

The security deposit is supposed to deal with accidental ordinary damage to the property. If I think of all the damage our (admittedly big) dog did to our house just through normal doggy wear and tear without chewing up things, it would definitely be more than 5 weeks rent alone to restore everything to premium condition. If tenants happened to cause any specific incident doggy damage or other damage, you would be screwed. There IS a reason most landlords don’t allow dogs.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 27/05/2019 14:39

What does it say about pets in the tenancy agreement?

LizB62A · 27/05/2019 14:53

If it was me, I'd pop round and check they haven't already got the puppy....

gubbsywubbsy · 27/05/2019 14:54

Our tenant asked us and we said no .. dogs are stinky and it's my house end of .