Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Tenants want a small puppy in small 2nd floor flat

70 replies

Koete · 10/08/2022 22:53

I've come across some threads on this before, but my case is slightly different and I would really value people's thoughts on the situation.

I have very reliable tenants who have been in my partly furnished flat for a year. This flat has been decorated by me to the nth degree and is my pride and joy (think bespoke cupboard doors, etc).

Signed tenancy agreement says "no pets". Tenants recently ask permission to get a small puppy. I take time to weigh up pros and cons, whilst also bear in mind that these same tenants (who because they are reliable, are getting the flat at a below market rate), asked a few months ago for the tenancy agreement to be amended so that it would include break clauses.

I grew up with dogs, but they were mostly outdoor with lots of space to roam around in. I don't think urban flats (esp 2nd floor) are suitable for dogs. Plus there's the unknown risk of how much damage they do. I really don't want there to be a dog in the flat.

Is it unreasonable to refuse their request?

Thoughts pls!

OP posts:

Astrabees · 11/08/2022 10:02

If it was an older dog that was housetrained and perhaps used to living in a flat I'd consider it, but not a puppy. I lived in a second floor flat myself when I got my first dog and it was not that difficult to house train her but there were inevitable accidents and she chewed the door frames. She was all;owed to be there it was a concil flat with a very lax lease.

Honeyroar · 11/08/2022 10:06

I think good dog care 100% depends on the person, not the property. I’ve had a did in a first floor flat. I really don’t see any issue if the owner is decent. My dog was taken out on a lead for last minute wees etc. She came to work with me (I worked outside), got lots of walks. I’ve never had any damage to the house from a dog either. You could perhaps ask for them to sign to say they’ll pay for carpet and curtains to be cleaned when they leave.

As a landlord you have to let go of the property being your pride and joy, and remove any furniture that you are particularly fond of.

DorotheaDiamond · 11/08/2022 10:09

not all puppies chew - our very small dog never has. Doesn’t scratch furniture. But he has left some hideous pee stains around the house (cream carpets). If you are going to allow it (I’m a landlord and I do but house not flat) I would check the breed first (no poodle crosses they always seem chewy) , if you are happy with the breed get an inventory of the condition done with photos and an agreement that they will pay for any damages more than their deposit (which actually they have to do anyway you just have to go to court). And remind them that if their dog becomes a barking nuisance their tenancy will be terminated.

Wafflesnsniffles · 11/08/2022 10:59

I would refuse. For the benefit of your flat, the dog and the neighbours.

Deguster · 11/08/2022 11:04

I’m a LL and love dogs - was happy to agree to my tenant getting one in a 2 bed house with a garden. (With hindsight, they were daft because they moved areas and really struggled to find a rental).

No way would I say yes in a flat.

plantsareglorious · 11/08/2022 11:08

I would agree to an older dog (18months plus) a rescue that had been assessed for the home it's going in to. Puppies wee and chew and are a real handful.
I allow pets in my property but only assessed rescue dogs that have rescue back up.

maskersanonymous · 11/08/2022 11:12

I have allowed a small but older dog in a 1st floor flat before. The tenant agreed to a higher deposit and all the carpets were professionally deep cleaned at his cost on leaving the flat. He worked from home and the dog was a poodle mix so less shedding etc.

There is no way I would have allowed a puppy, just too much mess and potential damage as well as disruption to the whole block.

Badger1970 · 11/08/2022 11:15

We've got a sprocker, and had her from 9 weeks old. Over the next 6 months, she chewed through all the kitchen skirting boards, kickboards and our bar stools. She peed on the floor until she was around 7 months, and even with tiled flooring there was a permanent order. The kickboards were all part of the kitchen and cost a small fortune to replace. We adore her, don't get me wrong but that's the last puppy we will ever have.

I'd also add that took her out into the garden every 20 minutes. To have no instant access to a garden is cruel and unnecessary for any dog let alone a puppy.

Badger1970 · 11/08/2022 11:16

that should read ODOUR.......

Mindymomo · 11/08/2022 11:21

We have a border collie, when he was a puppy he chewed furniture, holes in carpets, drawer knobs on wardrobes and chest of drawers. He jumps up on windowsill and has worn down the cill, curtains have been torn. Fortunately for us, most furniture that was chewed was old and was replaced after he grew out of the chewing stage. If you are going to be upset with the damage the puppy could do, then I would say no.

EmergencyHepNeeded · 11/08/2022 11:30

No way. Your flat will be ruined. El

Whitehorsegirl · 11/08/2022 11:51

No. Because I am a dog lover and I don't think they should be kept in flats unless they are ground floor flats of course that come with an individual garden.

Would be different if it was about wanting a cat that had to be kept indoors for health reasons. They do OK in flats and obviously don't risk bothering the neighbours with barking noises. I don't agree that cats can ''trash a place''. Had cats for many years without any issues.

silentpool · 11/08/2022 12:11

I wouldn't. The tenants downstairs have a dog, which is too big for a flat. I can hear it howling and tearing up the place when they go out.

I have a cat (also renting) but he is not allowed in the carpeted bedrooms - because I know they do damage. I am very strict with him but better that it's my stuff getting damaged.

IRememberXanadu · 11/08/2022 13:23

I'm a LL and the only time I said yes to a dog (after the tenant sneaked him in against the AST), it wrecked the place. The deposit barely made a dent in the repair costs. This is in a ground-floor flat with garden. In a flat, chances are the dogs will be unhappy - yes, there are exceptions, but the probability is against it.

A rental property is an investment and you shouldn't get too attached to it - however you should also try and minimise wear and tear while remaining fair to the tenants. In this day and age, where deposits are capped at 5 weeks' rent max, pets are too big a risk. And this is before the possibility of irreversible damage such as ingrained smell that would require a complete rip and replace approach. Yes it's sad for the tenant, but they wouldn't be the ones having to shell out thousands of pounds should things go wrong.

Nobody would ask you to put your pension into an unnecessarily risky fund - so why should you take unnecessary risks with this property?

CapturedLeprechaun · 11/08/2022 14:30

Tenants are allowed "reasonable wear and tear". If a Landlord lets a property to a family with three small toddlers/babies, and they live there for 5 years, their wear and tear would be significantly more than if it was just a professional couple, but the scuffed paint/worn carpets would all count as "reasonable", since having three toddlers you would expect a high level of wear and tear.

Ditto the puppy. If you say yes to this, the level of wear and tear that will be seen as "reasonable" will be a much higher level than if you said no, so you won't be able to make deductions from their deposit if things are in a slightly worse condition.

I'd say no. And I say this as someone who has been renting from the same landlord for 9+ years now!!

cruisecrazy · 11/08/2022 15:17

No way would I
allow them to have a dog. Poor dog nowhere to play or do its business. Imagine the poor dog stuck in a flat in this weather. These tenants are not thinking this through just say no.

sueelleker · 11/08/2022 16:24

Badger1970 I've got a sprocker-he was a free bonus when we adopted his ESS mum-no-one knew she was pregnant! Aren't the gorgeous? And so intelligent.

LovelyDaaling · 11/08/2022 21:30

If your instinct says No, you just have to be strong and tell them. Why be afraid to speak up? And if they try to make you change your mind, say the request has been carefully considered and your decision is final. You are very unlikely to lose them as tenants. They will be fully aware they are getting a good deal on the rent.

SurpriseSurprise · 11/08/2022 21:33

House training a dog without a garden would be a nightmare. It can be soul destroying enough with one

I’d say no to a dog but suggest a cat would be ok

NashvilleQueen · 11/08/2022 22:02

If you say no and then you find they've got one anyway what would you do? If you wouldn't seem to evict them then I think I'd let it go. Lots of small dogs will be fine in a second floor apartment - people all over cities have dogs. It's more important that they're around and it has company and walks. My dog cba with the garden and much prefers to go out on a lead.

Flip

1 2 3