Would you let your tenants have a puppy?

[Creamegg11]

Just that really. Tenants moved in two months ago into my two bedroom first floor flat with a section of back garden. They hadn’t mention any wants of having a dog when the letting agents asked all prospective tenants of any requirement that they want. I just had new carpets fitted to stairs and landing last year.

Tenants offered to pay extra deposit and puppy proof the flat with covers for floors etc. What annoys me is their text saying they are planning to get a puppy instead of asking whether it’s possible. It clearly states in their tenancy contract that no pets allowed unless landlord gives consent.

I told them I have a think. I don’t want the hassle of any damage or smell to flat from a dog once they leave, offer deposit or not.

hellfuckingno!

dog owner. house owner. no no no!

No way. I just spent hours clearing up a night of puppy puke all over the floor and carpets downstairs.

You'll smell a wet Labrador a mile off in your flat

I don't understand why this isn't an immediate no.

You can't keep a puppy in a flat and not have it shit and piss everywhere - it needs immediate access to outdoors. And if they do manage to get the puppy outside every time it needs a wee - using a shared garden as a dog loo? I would be raging if I was another resident in that building.

Puppies are not quiet either.

Absolutely no. There's a reason why the vast majority of landlords say no pets.

Many years ago, when I had only been a landlord for a couple of years, I agreed to a "well behaved small dog". It weed and pooed everywhere. The smell got into the floor boards ,so even after multiple carpet shampoos, for about 3 years you would still get occassional whiffs of dog wee.

The tenant also upped and left with rent and numerous debts outstanding, including a big vets bill for the incontinent dog.

Never again.

No. But I would let them have a cat, I think cats cause less damage in general.
I’ve had cats for over 40 years (not the same ones obvs) and bar the odd hairball or dead mouse, there have been very few accidents.

Nope our last puppy chewed through a wall,. staircase and fire surround.

Absolutely not: your tenants won’t replace damage to carpets etc & law will be on their side re deposits. Smell would also put me off If a prospective tenant viewing

I also think it’s important you establish the boundaries with your tenants early (I’ve had a lot of ‘tenants’ : lodgers) especially as they are telling vs asking. You have perfect excuse to say it’s not permitted re Freehold

you cant accept or demand extra deposit for pet (didn't you have no pets on lease??)
The way agents suggest you get out of this is to charge a slightly higher rent (I still wouldn't be interested) as pp said upstairs flat means dog has difficulty getting out side for its business & its too darn big for a flat anyway let alone a puppy
If you have no pets on lease point out they would be breaking their tenancy - section 8 eviction & of course (as pp said! ahem - the lease holder of the block says no pets)

@maddiemookins16mum our cats seem to like destroying our carpets no matter what we try.

We own and it's our carpet to destroy... if I was a landlord I would just say no pets

Absolutely no way , it will not only damage your property but will no doubt annoy the downstairs neighbours .

I would say no! In the past we had a tenant with dogs and left me with 7k in repairs after only leaving in our 3 bedroom house for 6 months. My new carpet, curtains, doors and floor boards were damaged and more.

No, especially when you've had new carpets put down. Tell them it's against the terms of their lease and it's a firm no.

What annoys me is their text saying they are planning to get a puppy instead of asking whether it’s possible.

Are you sure they are still only at the planning stage and they haven't already got the puppy?

Another one saying No.

(Assuming you are in England) You can't have more than 5 weeks' rent as deposit on a tenancy set up since the rules changed so
a) you can't charge an additional deposit if that's what they've already paid
b) a puppy could easily do damage that would cost more than the deposit to bring back the house and garden back to rentable standard.

Nope. It makes me sad that renters can't have pets but there's a very good reason that almost all landlords don't allow them. I think you need a plan for if you find at the next inspection that they've gone ahead and got one anyway, though.

Have a look at your leasehold from when you purchased it , quite a few flats do not allow pets especially where there are common areas like doors , stairs etc

Absolutely not. They have clearly got no idea how to manage a puppy. You can't puppy-proof a flat unless you intend to keep the poor thing in a cage. Who will look after it during the day? Do they have jobs? They are CF to even ask.

No way. The smell willl linger in, and the neighbours will hate you.

Absofuckinglutely not

I let to a tennant with a dog but they are very responsible and courteous. I am a big pet lover and always found it sad when people said renters couldn’t have dogs. I have seen the house and it’s immaculate. However, in this situation, I would say no. They seem irresponsible for either not consulting you when taking the property on or irresponsible for suddenly deciding to get a pup. The flat does not sound ideal for a the size dog they want either and their approach to you is bloody rude.

Having seen the mess my friend's Labrador puppy made of her kitchen, definitely not.

No chance. I had tenants with a dog. They didn't ask permission either. It totally trashed the place. Cost thousands to fix which the deposit didn't cover. Tbh if they do without permission id give notice and evict them.

I have a Labrador and I'm a landlord and absolutely NO . When our lab was a puppy she destroyed so much stuff and they do stink . A flat is not ideal for any dog but a lab ...no way

No way, My puppy did so much damage as a pup.

In your situation, no way!

Long time tenant, great relationship, in a house with private garden.... I would consider it. New tenants in a first floor flat.... Just no.

I'd say no for several reasons

• they are new, you don't even know they'll keep the flat in good order

• they either misled when applying for the flat OR they're getting a puppy impulsively

• it's not fair on the downstairs neighbours

• it's possibly unfair on other neighbours

• puppies can be incredibly destructive.

• they will NOT take it out to a garden that's not directly out the back door every 20 minutes. Therefore it will pee & poo inside the flat.

• your head lease &/or insurance possibly won't allow it

And because they TOLD you, they didn't ASK you.

I'd say 'no, it was advertised as 'no pets' because we won't allow it. If you want a dog you'll have to give notice on the flat & find a pet friendly rental'.

I love dogs, but you'd be absolutely mad to agree to them having one in your flat.