dogs in blocks of flats

[SuePine69]

Do you live in a block of flats where pets aren't allowed? Did you choose to live in a block of flats where there are no dogs? Well, you might be in for a big surprise.

I've just had a man with a dog move in next door to me. I never thought that could happen. I was always told no pets. I don't mind any pet except for dogs. My sister has a dog lives in a block where many other residents also have dogs. It's noisy with all the yapping and barking. If they're happy that's OK with me but I wouldn't want to live there.

I complained about it. They haven't consulted the residents. They didn't tell anyone about the change in policy. I was actually offered another flat in a different area earlier this year and I turned it down. If I had known there were going to be dogs in the block I would not have done.

What makes me really angry is that I have been told something that is false - as far as I can tell. I was told that there is a government directive now that says landlords can't refuse dogs. She said 'our hands are tied'.

Whatever the new rules are, as far as I can see it only applies to people who are already tenants. It doesn't apply to prospective tenants. Someone who requests a flat in my block and says they want to keep a dog can be refused. Even a tenant can be refused if there's good reason.

If someone's front door opens onto a path or road they can have a pet. If their front door opens onto a shared corridor then they can't. This is an established principle and I see no reason for it to change.

They should have given this man a flat with a front door that doesn't open onto a shared corridor, like all the flats in the block where my sister lives - or a bungalow. I don't want to stop anyone from doing what they want.

I was told that they would never let our block get like my sister's. But I have no confidence that they can solve problems. That flat was empty because my former neighbour left, partly because they moved an alcoholic in below him. This man shouted at the top of his voice for hours on end. I could hear it in my flat. He said that he was getting woken up too. So he took me with him to complain. They completely dismissed his complaints. This alcoholic has since died of an alcohol related condition.

Ah op if you can't beat em join em! Get a little angry chihuahua. Man my Nans was MEAN!

Don't like it, move out.

Your landlord decides the rules, not you.

You're in social housing and moaning about the people you live with for God's sake.

Touch grass.

Yeah, but you haven't actually mentioned experiencing any noises or stinks yet.

Has that actually happened?

I'm not really sure what the point of this thread is. If you just wanted to rant, you'd probably be better off in Chat than here. It's not like we can offer any constructive advice to you not liking dogs.

You are complaining about sharing corridors? They also have to share them with you. You seem deeply unpleasant and definitely not someone I would like to have as a neighbour. All neighbours impact on everyone else. You impact on yours to.

You know, this change has probably helped an incredible amount of people with their living situations. When you speak about the fact you don't like the "stink" (and I take all other made up reasons with a pinch of salt), it validates my comment more so, this is such a non issue.

I'm glad the rules have changed - also I'd like to pet his dog.

No a new law has not been passed. It is in the proposed Renters Reform Bill which is yet to be passed.

You sound barking

I think this is a grey area, I used to live in a flat with no pets rules. It is in the lease agreement. If someone WFH and is there the majority of the time OK. We now have a dog, we live in a house she is well behaved and not a barker and is hardly ever left for more than a couple of hours.

however next door have a dog with a loud bark and leave it at home when they go to work, mainly in the garden. It barks at me when I go outside and barks at people walking the other side of the fence it is not ideal.

I actually agree with you OP. Although I am a dog lover I believe it unfair for dogs to be allowed in flats with a shared areas for obvious reasons just as much as in shops and restaurants. These are not suitable places for such creatures who create unpleasant noise and smells to fellow humans/residents/shoppers. They maybe a 'family member' but they are primitive creatures, not human.

I feel the same about parents and their feral kids, who, according to some on Mumsnet, should be allowed to be ‘free spirits’, regardless of the inconvenience to neighbours.

I hope that MPs who debate this bill understand that dogs are not the same as other pets. I have no problem with cats or any other pet. Dogs are noisy and potentially dangerous.

I hope that they make it clear that it should apply to existing tenants and not prospective tenants. When the CEO of my housing association told me they have to let people move in with pets that - as far as I can tell - is not correct.

I hope that they exempt sheltered accommodation from the legislation, if it is somewhere where people live more communal lives, sharing laundries, common rooms and gardens.

I hope that they uphold the long established principle that where the front door of somebody's flat or bungalow opens onto a path or street then that is regarded as suitable for pets, but where there are shared corridors and entrances it isn't.

Do you perhaps have quite a bit of time on your hands OP?

I am sorry but I have to vehemently disagree with you.

Firstly, you already replied to me that you are not scared of dogs and don't like the smell and the noise, so now you are changing your stance and saying it's because they are scary?

Secondly, the kind of people you have described in your replies are exactly the sort of people who I think will benefit most from the emotional benefit a loyal dog provides. In essence you seem to be saying 'some people who are not me might be scared and I dislike the smell and noise.'

In taking this stance you seem to want to deprive people who might benefit from dog ownership for a small minority who might be frightened of them.

That's just not on.

I am sorry that rules have changed to your dislike, but others will benefit from the changes, and you are not the only person in the accomodation.

I am sure any responsible HA will have done a risk/rewards benefit consultation at both Board level and they have all decided it provides more rewards than risks.

It was on the news today about loneliness and its link to illness and life expectancy.
A dog ( or most pets ) alleviate this.

Yes, and having a neighbour's dog yapping, every time I get up to a have a pee at night increases it. There is a place for dogs, a block of flats isn't it.

It's a shame they didn't follow on from that news report and explain how having a dog barking for hours on end affects neighbours mental health, not to mention the poor mental health of the dog.

Most dogs don’t bark for hours on end though.
There’ll always be an exception to the rule, but the overall evidence is that pets are a benefit.

A noisy dog can be dealt with the same way as a noisy neighbour.

I think it's wrong.

Problem is a lot of people do stupid things, like have enormous or loud dogs in tiny flats.

Flats are also more susceptable to noise nuisance. I can imagine if you are in a block of flats surrounded by dogs and they all start barking and setting each other off it would be an absolute nightmare. No one should have to live with that.

I don't think this policy has been thought through.

No, the reality is that nothing is done about barking dogs and they cannot be 'dealt' with without very active EH and landlords neither of which are prolific, and saying they are the exception is a little disingenuous, and doesn't match my experience.

No, the reality is that nothing is done about barking dogs and they cannot be 'dealt' with without very active EH and landlords neither of which are prolific, and saying they are the exception is a little disingenuous, and doesn't match my experience.

How do you get on with screaming kids, loud music, banging doors, parties, arguments etc?

We don't have any of those issues, or dog issues. My experience is the lower the price point of the property the more issues there are.

I was a housing litigator so know quite a lot around those issues and they are very difficult to 'deal with' to a satisfactory conclusion for the neighbours.

I live in a block of flats where several residents have dogs, it's a nightmare, when one starts barking, they all start. It's like living in the middle of Battersea Dog's Home.

It’s so selfish of people to inflict their barking dogs on others & it shouldn’t be allowed in flats. Most people don’t want to hear constant whining & barking. It isn’t fair.

Im so sorry OP. I have a barky dog, but I live in a house with no immediate neighbours. I never had a dog when i rented a flat as it wouldn’t have been fair on my neighbours or the dog. They should not have changed the rules OP. Why are some posters on here being deliberately stupid ?