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Original poster

Ex LA house - limit on pets?!

39 replies

WTF0ver · 19/01/2021 13:43

I recently bought a lovely house which is ex Local Authority. I'm in Scotland. When I was sent the paperwork from my solicitor I noticed a paragraph declaring that we are only allowed 1 cat and dog, or two of both. No chickens or aviary which I would have suspected might need permission anyway but no hutches either! So it looks like no bunnies or guinea pigs. Wasn't intending on getting those but I'm very surprised at that. Nor am I intending on having a menagerie either but we will get a pet or two at some point.

Anyway I've never seen or heard of these rules before. I don't recall seeing it when I bought my old flat years ago. Is it a LA thing? Anyone else experienced this? Previous owners of the house had two small dogs.

OP posts:
Artinsurance · 19/01/2021 13:50

My last house, built and bought in 2001 in England, had a restriction of 2 pets, and no pigs or chickens in the garden, so it is a general Thing depending on who originally sold the plot.

There were other restrictions on work vans and caravans and these were often ignored, so I think the pet thing probably was too.

DPotter · 19/01/2021 13:52

Our neighbours have a covenant that says they can't keep chickens - not a previous local authority house. They have no idea why!

Artinsurance · 19/01/2021 13:53

There were other restrictions on work vans and caravans and these were often ignored, so I think the pet thing probably was too.

By that I mean, I wasn’t aware of anyone being reprimanded. It may depend on which builders and whether they are prepared to act to uphold the condition if it is highlighted.

Bluntness100 · 19/01/2021 13:58

Covenants are common. I had a house where I couldn’t own chickens or run a pub. It was a period property and never council, 🤷‍♀️

MojoMoon · 19/01/2021 13:59

Mine is ex council in London and has similar restrictions (although can have 2 hutch animals in the garden)
Limited to two dogs or two cats or one of each.

No chickens which is perfectly reasonable for zone 2 London.

It's not just an ex council thing, lots of leaseholds have similar things to stop someone hoarding animals and being annoying to their neighbours

PickAChew · 19/01/2021 14:02

I've had a house where I couldn't keep livestock (didn't stop someone keeping a Shetland pony in their garden) and one build by the Methodists that prohibited the manufacture of alcohol.

Daphnise · 19/01/2021 21:37

I think it's a good thing, and would stop or try to stop someone having several dogs and cats, or some potty old dear filling the house with cats.

BikeRunSki · 19/01/2021 21:44

We’ve got the chicken thing too.
House was built in 1999, semi rural (village centre) and has always been privately owned.

clpsmum · 19/01/2021 21:55

It's written in my missives I can have one dog and one cat or two cats or two dogs only. My house was a new build bought from builder in 2006. Until recently both me and my neighbour had three dogs

SabrinaThwaite · 19/01/2021 23:14

We had no chickens or other livestock in our estate covenants too.

One of the neighbours had a sheep for a while (which used to be dressed up in big knickers).

Singinginshower · 19/01/2021 23:24

I can't keep a pig

Original poster
WTF0ver · 19/01/2021 23:25

Thanks everyone, interesting. And it's got a name too, covenants. A quick google showed a post on another site where a guy had purchased a house and then found out at the last minute that he wasn't allowed to keep his dog there because no pets were allowed at all. You'd think they'd warn you about these things at the start before you make the purchase, pets are important to people.

I'm glad we're allowed at least a couple of animals, we're both really wanting a pet or two and I don't think I could have gone ahead with the sale otherwise.

OP posts:
TrainspottingWelsh · 19/01/2021 23:27

One of my neighbours has a house with a similar restriction, but it specifically mentions the exception of stabling a horse, or pair of ponies at the back. I'm not sure the completely unrelated owners of the long ago sold and converted ex coach house would particularly appreciate that, but it's nice to have the option.

BrieAndChilli · 19/01/2021 23:37

I think in most cases of long forgotton covenants the owner of the covenant is no longer interested in the ins and outs of the property and things like how many pets you have or parking a caravan on a drive would only be enforced if those actions were causing an extreme and annoying disturbance to neighbours etc
Eg you might have 4 dogs who are good as gold. No-one is going to come round and make you get rid of them, but if those 4 dogs bark all night and start biting people, pooing in the street without you picking it up then at some point the right person will be alerted and enforce the covenant.

cabbageking · 19/01/2021 23:44

Think the no chicken rule is fairly common 're the noise issue with the old cockrils at dawn.
The solicitor should have referred to any convenents before exchanging.
I would see what the situation is with any neighbours pets first.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 19/01/2021 23:49

Brie with older properly I think it can be hard to find the person who can enforce the covenant let alone persuade them to care.
We had one from the council (planning regulations) and managed to get it removed.

Pinetreesfall · 20/01/2021 00:11

Depends if the covenant is enforceable beyond the original parties i.e. do your deeds say 'and all successors in title' after the bit about the covenant. This will give a good indication.
Also who is going to enforce it you may ask - well you'd be surprised what pops up!
I'm a rural surveyor and covenants seem to be everywhere I don't want them all day every day!

QueenPawPaws · 20/01/2021 00:19

I'm in a ground floor apartment with a garden (block of 4 apartments, I'm the only one with a garden)
I can't hang washing out. Next door can as it's a house, and next door but one and next door but... so you can walk down the road past 10 gardens with washing in but I can't even put an airer out Hmm
Oh and no pets except one caged bird or fish

QueenPawPaws · 20/01/2021 00:20

Posted too soon! There was something about tasteful decoration which my dad read and went "well now I want to paint a room black for the first time in my life"
It also says about monthly inspections. Not seen anyone in 13 years and if they think they're inspecting my owned apartment monthly they can jog on

Original poster
WTF0ver · 20/01/2021 23:10

Yes I can see the point with chickens/cockerels but rabbits and guinea pigs is a bit much. Also birds and fish usually need a companion or two.
I'll need to check exactly what it says again. My house was built in the 70s so it's not super old but not new either. Can't believe some of the rules for people who own their own homes, not allowed washing hanging up outside wtf.

OP posts:
Amijustagrump · 21/01/2021 12:45

My parents house built in 2009 has no hutches and no chickens, I cant imagine it ever being enforced!

FuglyHouse · 21/01/2021 13:31

There's a no caravans covenant on all of the houses around here that is definitely being ignored by lots of residents. We tried to find out who would enforce the covenants on our house, but the last company listed no longer exists, so we decided that it wasn't worth worrying about.

RedMarauder · 21/01/2021 13:56

OP during WWII people were encouraged to keep rabbits for food. I suspect some people kept loads of them in unhygienic conditions and became a nuisance.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 21/01/2021 14:03

Whereas I have a house where I am explicitly allowed a pig! Haven’t told my dog yet...

orangenasturtium · 21/01/2021 14:28

I live on an ancient estate where you are supposed to have written permission to keep pets. The land owner does enforce the rule for leasehold/rental properties or tries to based on the reminders in every newsletter. But the current estate manager is a control freak who would probably erect a tithe barn and take 10% of everyone's home grown veg if he thought he could get away with it.