Renting out house - tenant has 2 big dogs

[FeeFee382]

I'm going to be renting out our house for a long let.

The house has been completely refurbished - new carpets etc.

The tenant has 2 large dogs but seems a good tenant with good references.

Would you be happy to have the dogs?

Should I put anything in the contract?

Tia

Because of the various deposit schemes, if you've got anything older in your property, you're buggered if you need to claim for it. Carpets if they're older than 5 years, same for curtains, redecoration if you painted 4 years ago, not sure how long if they wreck a front door or kitchen unit, but you can be sure it won't be asking they're expected to last for than if it was your home you were using them in. They can be in for a year, but if you replaced it over the set time ago, it's out of its life span.

I think for me it would depend on the breed of dog, but I feel like two large dogs could cause as many problems as about 10 small dogs and no one would allow 10 dogs in their rental property would they😳

So the contract has stated that anything damaged won't be seen as usual wear and tear.

The whole house was renovated 3 months ago - new walls, new carpets, new front door, new windows. The works. So have receipts for everything!

I wouldn't, especially as it's only been on the market a week. Wait for someone without two big dogs. I'd be more likely to accept kids, it's the deeply ingrained dog pong for me rather than damage that can be fixed. Also agree it doesn't sound like a great house for big dogs, local park notwithstanding.

My concern would be that two large dogs in an unsuitable property would generate complaints from neighbours

If I had even 1 large dog I wouldn't want to be in a place with only a patio garden, despite being next to a park. I wouldn't consider the property suitable for 2 large dogs. I'd wait and see who else comes along.

@JKScot4

Please don’t turn them down, it’s very hard to rent with pets, if they are re paying that amount of rent I’m sure they’ll be responsible. I work in rescue and too many are having to give up their loved pets due to LL refusing pets.

JK. Why is it hard to rent with pets? Because the totally wreck the house contents over time and make them stink. That is unless they are kept outside like working dogs which they won't be.

I don't let any tenant near one of our houses we rent if they had a dog. I'm absolutely clear and if they try and sneak one in then they would get evicted pronto as a breach of contract.

Redecorating a house and new carpets is extremely expensive.

Having seen the damage that a couple of large dogs can do to a house, I would just say no. Someone I know has a couple of dogs a bit like huskies but a bit smaller (I forget the breed) that are batshit crazy, and they have scratched and ruined vinyl flooring, chewed laminate, chewed and scratched sofas, there is hair everywhere, and the house stinks.

My next door neighbour has a little dog, a shiz hu or however you pronounce it, and she is completely undestructive and very well behaved. I'd be happy to rent to someone who had a little calm-natured dog.

Cats I'm not sure about. We've had two (sadly one has now left us) that were not destructive at all and never had accidents, but I've known other cats that were a nightmare for scratching and you could smell them as soon as you opened the door.

Please don’t turn them down, it’s very hard to rent with pets, if they are re paying that amount of rent I’m sure they’ll be responsible. I work in rescue and too many are having to give up their loved pets due to LL refusing pets

So the problem is that people acquire pets but do not have access to suitable facilities in which to house the animals that they want to keep, your solution is that landlords should feel sympathy for these people and not mind about the problems which come with keeping large animals in your home with you.

I would like to propose a different solution, don't get a big dog that you cant control or properly care for which then becomes a problem for everyone around you.
Or in other words, don't be a dick.

personally pets wouldn’t put me off. Mainly because you can get a bad tenant who doesn’t look after your house, pet or not. If they are the type to trash and ruin the place they’d do it with or without a pet. Plus if you never plan to move back in and it’s a long term let, if you get a good tenant who stays, you’ll more than likely need to re decorate at the end of it anyway!! Houses need regular maintenance

Also the fact they’ve been honest about them and not tried to hide them ( which a lot do ) shows they are decent people

I wouldn’t. LL of many years speaking. You can’t “make” tenants repaint or repair damage to walls or doors. That’s terrible advice.

they’ve been honest about them and not tried to hide them
or are those 2 dogs just the thin end of the wedge.....?

My dog passed away last month . She was an indoor huge breed dog . Slobber and farts you name it she did it . We have wood flooring and only carpet on the stairs .
I was forever cleaning and deep cleaning when she was alive . It’s probably why now Corona virus is here I have a huge amount of cleaning stuff stockpiled from when she was alive .
However I have been really surprised that within a few days the smell of dog is no longer 😂 there

We do plan to repaint the kitchen and downstairs later this year but we do that every few years anyway .

I wouldn't and I say that as a pet owner. Luckily we have wooden floors. But, we have lived in houses with carpet and you can't get the dog smell out no matter what you do. You will, at the very least, need new carpets.

I happily paid for new carpets and redecoration at the end of my tenancy because my dog / DCs had trashed the floors and walls. I had budgeted for it though.

If you hadn’t been happy to do it the landlord would have had to suck it themselves, notquiteruralbliss
Why did you allow your dogs to trash the place? I’ve had dogs all my life and they’ve never trashed anywhere, never mind someone else’s property.

Absolutely not, it’s not just the carpets but the pee soaks through to the floors, this will cost you more in the long run.

Dogs are simply a big risk. Damage, smells and the need to relate carpets cost time and money. The risk is pretty high. Quite simply, why take the risk and incur the expense and aggro, when you don't need to?

Pet owners feel aggrieved but the reality is that their pets do cost landlords money and effort. They need to recognise that landlords cannot accurately judge which will and which won't, but that many cause problems. Even good pet owners have animals that get ill and have accidents or who suddenly behave in a destructive way - it is the reality of pets - and it involves a lot of expense to rectify. Therefore I can't see why anyone is surprised that most landlords say no, even if extra rent is offered - who wants the stress, the longer void time between lets to get it sorted out and quite simply the added uncertainty.

If letting is a business, who intentionally adds to their costs, uncertainty and puts their product at risk? It really isn't a wise financial choice - and in the end, that's what letting is about, not providing a community service for people who love animals. It sounds harsh but it's the reality. Those who rent have less choices and things like having pets reduces the choice even more.