Should I break covenant?

[TeddyTilly]

We have seen house that is absolutely perfect that we would like to move to. On the covenant, it says that no cats are allowed due to nesting birds.

But we have two cats...

I love animals and would never want to harm any wildlife. The thought of endangering or hurting any birds horrifies me.

But our cats are a real source of comfort for two of my three children who are autistic.

My parents have said they will take the cats when we move and then keep them when the children forget about them (!) but I think we would need to have them back.

Would it be mad to bring the cats with us and keep them as house cats? They don't usually go far and I keep them in at night.

My worry is that if we did that we would get into some sort of trouble with neighbours/council, and as the cats are only a year old, we would be having to keep them 'secret' for a long long time.

But the house is in an area where they aren't many properties coming up...

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Yes inquire as to house cats being ok first. If not could you exchange the cats for a dog or caged pet, guinea pig or house rabbit? Your parents have the cats so they can be visited.

Would it be worth losing the cats to get the house?

I don't think this is the house for you OP.

It has been put in to protect the wildlife in the area.

You want to move in, break the covenant - because you dont care about the wildlife?

Don't be that person. Your neighbours are going to hate you, for good reason. It is a bit like those people who move to a village then campaign to get the church bells silenced.

It's not the right house/estate for you.

We have seen house that is absolutely perfect

it isn’t

YABVU OP.
This is not the house for you.

Thanks for all your replies.

I think in a nutshell, it feels like this would be an added stressor for multiple reasons – and we absolutely have a stressful enough life as it is!!

The search continues...

Just rehome the cats to your parents, they have offered.

Cats kills many, many birds.

We need our birds more than we need cats. Introduce your children to birdwatching instead.

An indoor life is very restrictive for cats.

Good decision op. As this is a new estate then it is likely to be enforced. Personally I’d re home my pets for a house unless I had no other option.

I think the main issue for the OP is the impact on her autistic children….
So it’s not as easy as ‘rehoming them’.

Not fair on the cats if they go outside now. You're being selfish OP, find somewhere where there aren't nesting birds and a covenant and let those poor cats have free range.

If not could you exchange the cats for a dog or caged pet, guinea pig or house rabbit?

I don’t think that’s really how it works when pets are part of the family 🤔

It sounds like there must be a reason for the covenant and I don’t personally think it’s fair to keep the cats inside when they already know what it’s like to be free.

Out of interest, who would OP be reported to if they broke the covenant? The council?

As has been said, it would be best to either find another house or rehome the cats and it doesn't sound as though rehoming them is what you want.

It's refreshing to see a thread in Rural Living that actually is about rural living though!

I couldn't give up my cats for a house. I also don't think it's fair to keep cats indoors if they've been used to roaming (which I presume they have).

I'd look for another house.

The covenant maybe there because the house is less than 500m (allegedly the range of a cat) from an SSI or other important nature site.

And some nature loving person who objected to the estate being built will be watching........

The South Downs National Park is relatively recent (2011) so I don't think you'd be able to have it removed as it sounds like they mean business.

Does the covenant apply to all neighbouring houses. If so YABU as some may have bought in the knowledge that there would be no cats in the area. Many people dislike cats as they poo in their gardens.

Do your cats actually catch any birds? You could put on a bell, and a brightly coloured wide collar.

My cat is about the same age and a terrible hunter - he can't even catch flies. Sometimes he bats at ants 😁

I live in a covenanted house. I have no desire to break the covenants which are taken seriously in the village.

In any case neighbours “shop” neighbours who break them.

The outcomes are just not worth it.

If it’s the estate/development I’m thinking of, I got stuck on the same covenant. Allowed dogs but not cats. Didn’t buy as a result.

If I recall correctly, the agent at the time said that people certainly had cats but they would have no option but to rehome their cat or sell if they were challenged.

There was a court case up in London at around that time that set precedent.

Unfortunate as it was a lovely place.

People can report you all they want, but a developer isn’t going to spend legal time telling you to get rid of your cat. The only ones who can act on it are the people that put it there. Your neighbours might complain but the neighbours can’t enforce it, only the developer who really won’t give a shit.

Do not do anything hasty just yet, download the title documents from land registry and check the exact wording of the covenant. As others have said here, some are not enforceable once the property is sold beyond the first owner, there are differing types of covenant. Once you have the documents you can assess the actual wording and either investigate yourself or ask a solicitor what the implications are.

Personally, how the owner of the house cannot have cats, but any other cat can come into the garden or area seems a tad stupid, so it will be interesting to see the actual wording.

Build a catio on to the house for the cats to access via a cat flap. Then everybody should be happy including the birds.

Depends on the individual cat Id think. Not fair if they can't be happy inside, but they might be happy after a short adjustment period. Obviously if they weren't that wouldn't be ok. Our neighbours cat goes out into the garden on a lead with its owner. Others are in cat runs, one I've seen goes for walks round the neighbourhood like a dog on a lead. The woman's teenagers think its embarrassing, but the cat seems to like it.

what a way to take the shine off of moving in to your new family home

having to squirrel away the cats and bring them in to the new home under the cloak of darkness and then prevent them from ever going outside to explore. for the rest of their lives. and never mentioning to neighbours. and making sure that when you buy litter and food…. it’s tucked away in the grocery bags.

seriously op