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.

If you allow it for this person you are setting a precedent for all of them and you will open the door to neighbourly friction as you try to negotiate why it is OK for that person but not the other etc etc. A pet ban is an easy black and white - stay into the grey areas and you will be negotiating / commiserating / playing peace maker / moving goal posts for ever

If you agree to dogs I would suggest you don’t allow them in shared garden. I share a communal garden and one neighbour lets her dog crap and doesn’t pick it up always. Even when she does pick it up there’s smears of dog shit everywhere. Spoils the space for people.

Not in a 3rd floor flat
I would give approval for a cat or small animal like a hamster, but dogs& 3rd floor flats don’t mix!

Unless you like the sound of a dog barking I wouldn’t agree. Once it’s there you’ll never be rid.

I would say no. Bear in mind that if you want to sell this would put off a lot of buyers.

I feel guilty because it has taken a long time for the seller - who is my friend - to sell and I owe her lot/we have been through a lot together and I am pleased for her because she has finally got a sale.

Maybe think of the long term consequences of making an exception. What do the other residents say about it.

I love dogs but don't think encouraging someone to keep a labrador in an upstairs flat without even its own dedicated garden space is in any way fair to the dog. Especially when, in balance of probability, they'll be out at work all day. When it whines and barks all day you'll feel guilty about its shit life! If they're keen buyers then being told no dog won't put them off I guess.

Saying no won’t necessarily stop the sale.

If having a labrador is a dealbreaker, why on earth are they looking at 3rd floor flats?

I can’t imagine anyone who is willing to sign on the dotted line for a property will tear it up for a theoretical dog. You’re very kind to try and help your friend but even putting aside the cruel aspect of it all for the dog and other residents, you may seriously regret your decision if you end up living next door to a problematic dog

Toilet training will be impossible in a third floor flat. They literally have to be put out every hour at least, and have to be put out quickly if they start sniffing about. How will that work?

You need to be impartial and fair to all. Have you asked the other leaseholders?

It’s not your responsibility to sell your friend’s flat. There’s a rule for a reason, and you are doing nothing wrong by sticking to that rule. Don’t set a precedent for your friends sake when your friend won’t even be living there anymore. You could have all sorts of trouble with the new dog owning neighbours and then you’ll be in a pickle in more ways than one!

No chance. And I love dogs.

But the carpet will get dirtier. The dog will wee and poo in the communal garden. Do you have kids who play on the grass? Might you have kids down the line?

What happens if they get the dog and it barks when they’re out? Easier to say no now rather than try to make them get rid of it if it’s a pita.

I love dogs. I wouldn't have any dog never mind a lab, in a 3rd floor flat. If they want a dog, they need to move.

That's not unreasonable or unheard of.

When I was younger I sold my ground floor flat, bought a house with a garden (and got 2 lodgers to cover the extra cost) so that I could have my dog with me (mum didn't want to keep her anymore).

ok so we have

bad reasons to say yes

• wanting to be liked
• wanting to help my friend sell

good reasons to say yes

• um, it might work out ok

bad reasons to say no

• meanness

Good reasons to say no - see thread!!!!

I'm glad I consulted mumsnet. There is a reasonableness tag to the veto right so I would have to justify the no.

Sorry, just seen you have a private garden. What do the other flat owners think.....the ones who share the communal garden? Can’t imagine they’d be happy, especially not the 2nd floor person. Barking potential and bouncy lab scampering up and down the floors.

Nope. Sets a precedent. Is also unfair on other owners who purchased a pet free property.

If people say yes, it could make your own flats harder to sell down the line. I wouldn’t buy a flat in a block where dogs were allowed.

We have a new puppy in a second floor flat, toilet training is going well and we haven’t had an indoor we since Friday. Next door have three dogs, you sometimes see them on the balcony but I have never heard them bark. A resident the otherside of the courtyard has two dogs, again, I sometimes see them on the balcony, but I’ve never heard any barking etc.

British views on flat living are still a bit behind.

Hard no from me. Do they already have a dog, though? Or are they thinking of moving into a third floor flat and THEN acquiring a Labrador? If they're mad enough to think that is a reasonable idea, this will not be the only issue you have with them.

Smaller breed?

No.

No dogs. A dog in a 3rd floor flat is just downright cruel, frankly.

I live on the ground floor in a block of 8 flats. Other residents have dogs and it's a nightmare! Anytime visitors go up the stairs you get barking especially when owners are out. Small yappy dog is the worst. A neighbour who enjoys gardening is left picking up poo that the owner's 'didn't see and burnt patches of grass where the dogs wee.

@SimonJT A Victorian conversion flat is highly unlikely to have a balcony.