I've been asked to agree to new neighbours having a dog

[whatcolourisyourthursday]

Hi dog experts,
We're the freeholders of a block of flats (converted Victorian) and the about-to-buy purchaser of one of the flats has asked if they can have a dog (the lease forbids it but we can consent).
They are suggesting a labrador which from my point of view seems a good choice as they seem like neighbour-friendly dogs. But I don't know much about dogs. Does a labrador seem like a good neighbour-friendly breed? There's a communal garden but the flat is on the 3rd floor and there's a carpet so there are some practical issues.

@whatcolourisyourthursday

Give me something here people!

there must be some conceivable way of having a dog in a flat...

I would just say no. You risk devaluing your property forever.

I really wouldn't. As pp have said, there are some situations where this could work and some where it could be a nightmare and you will NEVER be able to list never mind enforce every option. Some small breeds could be a LOT more noisy than labs. I love dogs, but this has nightmare written all over it. I've also lived in a flat below a (small) dog and it got very annoying.

Seriously, I would say 'we've specifically chosen dog free and we're sorry we're not going to change from that position'.

Also as pp said, the only people who stand to benefit from this are the vendors.

Given how keen you are to please, I'm starting to wonder if you are the vendor! Or buyer?

I wouldn't dream of agreeing to this. Apart from the actual dog issues, to try to change the ground rules like this suggests they'll be a fecking nightmare in other ways.

Have you actually talked to the other residents? Shouldn't they have a say seeing as it'll directly affect them.

God no! It'll be barking all day (most dogs hate being cooped up), the communal areas will smell of dog pee and you'll lose the use of the communal garden.

Why would you agree to a neighbour living in your block of flats having a dog? There is no way this will benefit you or the other residents in any way at all. Any dog will bark at least sometimes, may whine or bark when its owners leave it alone, will wee and poo on the grass. Even with owners picking up the poo, let's face it, it's been there. Dogs are just gorgeous lovely creatures, they truly are, but you'd be mad to sign up to being at the mercy of unknown owners of an unknown dog.

And most of your other tenants will hate it too.

Why are you so invested in acceding to their demands to have a dog, op? It's quite strange
Also strange that you're happy to give the communal garden over to someone else's dog, whilst choosing not to have one yourself.

ok ok!

Do you live in the building yourself, op?

What about the people who have to live underneath the flat with a dog in? They bought it knowing no dogs were allowed. I'd explore every way I could to sue you as freeholder if you allowed that.

And I have a dog.

I've lived in flats though and would never consider inflicting the noise upon closer neighbours like that.

Id be livid if I were another leaseholder in the building

I'd just say no citing additional wear and tear to the common parts, noise and smells.

The only way I would consider possibly agreeing to a dog in a flat is if it was a ground floor flat with its own private entrance and outside space.

Have you consulted the other residents?

Life long dog owner here. Don't allow them to have a dog. Any dog. It will be a massive mistake.

Our lab only ever barked if someone knocked on the door.

I’d be more worried about the communal garden. It’s a lot of poop scooping!

Any dog in a third floor flat is cruel. If they want a dog so desperately they need to find a more dog friendly property. Also think of the other flat owners, they’ve bought in a complex where pets aren’t allowed, for some that may have been the reason they bought there. This really isn’t your problem to fix.

I’d say no on the basis that it’s a communal garden. It won’t be anymore; it’ll be the dog’s garden. You’ll all have to be careful about shutting gates and you’ll have to check for dog poo before you can use it. Then you’ll have the dog bounding up to you when you’re trying to relax. Also, if there are children in the flats, they’ll have to be supervised around the dog.

It seems cruel keeping a big dog in a flat. Even with a small dog I would worry that their needs were not being met. It’s one thing if you are renting temporarily and take them out several times a day to compensate. But buying a flat and a dog just seems irresponsible. It’s the equivalent of having a 3-8 year old child and only taking them out once/twice a day and otherwise expecting them to spend their time in a flat.

Chihuahua yes, lab no!

I would be very unhappy if I suddenly found a dog with permission to use my formerly dog-free communal outdoor space.

It’s not ok to change the policy on the existing residents. They may have chosen that location because dogs are not allowed.

Also when the lab gets old it's going to seriously be uncomfortable if not dangerous for it to be going up and down stairs, you'd need to be able to carry the dog.

Don’t just offer a smaller dog -the poi’s May be smaller but the barking is often worse!

I live in a maisonette next door with its own private garden and no ban on having a dog. So I guess I feel guilty on some level.

Why do you feel guilty to this one potential leaseholder? You have a responsibility to the existing leaseholders first and foremost? Why aren't you feeling guilty about fucking up their enjoyment of their property?

If you're not comfortable with the responsibility that comes with being a freeholder sell the freehold.

You should feel more guilty towards the other residents, as they'll be the ones dealing with the fall out.

Is the flat very difficult to sell, for some reason? You're acting as if you can't possibly let these potential buyers get away, for some reason.