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.

I have a friend who has a city pied a terre ( not her main home) who is a leaseholder, but the deal was that she also bought a share of the freehold. It's a Victorian/Georgian conversion, and there are 4 flats, all owner-occupied, and all with a share of the freehold. Could you do something like that? So all leaseholders become freeholders? I think there are simple company structures for this purpose - you seem to know about them already.

hi Cat,

no, I can't, because the malevolent guy that lined his own pockets with our money until I relieved him of his responsibilities still owns a flat.....

Why would the new owners become directors of the freehold company? They're not free holders and you're not selling them a share of the freehold.

not the freeholder, the RTM co.
Keep up! :)

@whatcolourisyourthursday

It has been a deciding factor. We also have a tenant from hell in the block and it has been an absolute headache trying to get the leaseholder to do anything about it. We have had noise and abuse for months and months.

Being a freeholder can be no fun at all! We will make some money when they come to buy a lease extension but the ground rents really don't make up for the headache and upsets it causes living here. We only bought the freehold as no one else wanted it when the ex freeholder was selling and we wanted some control over costs etc..... As we live on site and pay a quarter of the service charge you would think the other leaseholders would know we want to keep costs as low as possible but still perform necessary maintenance. They all seem to want a gold plated service for pennies though and when they don't get it, it's our fault.

This is why I posted about being so careful about allowing a dog (we do not allow them at all) as it could store up so many problems for you in the long run when you still have to live there. You would become the punching bag.

sympathies Jumbles, that's a familiar story - at least you feel you can move so you must have been doing good work as freeholder and the property must be in fairly decent shape.

because the malevolent guy that lined his own pockets with our money until I relieved him of his responsibilities still owns a flat

Oh noooooo. That must make it tough.

Really surprised at the responses here. I live in a flat, I’m buying a flat, it wouldn’t cross my mind to object to other residents having a dog. Their flat, their choice! I do agree a Labrador is not a good breed for a flat though. It needs to be a small dog

Really surprised at the responses here. I live in a flat, I’m buying a flat, it wouldn’t cross my mind to object to other residents having a dog. Their flat, their choice!

It depends surely if you bought a flat where the freeholder allowed dogs or one that doesn't allow dogs.

If I bought somewhere on the understanding that it was pet free and then found myself having the hassle of a dog imposed on me, I'd be quite annoyed.

It does cat, it does.
That’s why my friend and I are so tight-we went through a lot

@whatcolourisyourthursday

Of COURSE you can ask if they already have the ddog! They've written to you to consider CHANGING THE TERMS OF THE LEASE to allow them to keep a dog. You risk upsetting the other tenants of the building by doing so. You are the freeholder - of course you should ask them! I assume you have already incurred expenses in this sale (and certainly will to change the lease terms), why wouldn't you ask them?

expenses? no in that my time is, as usual, valued at nothing...(welcome to womanhood I hear you cry....:))

You've valued your own time at zero, and judging by all your little smileys, were happy to do it.
Nothing to do with being a woman. Everything to do with being a people pleaser/ pushover.

Just refuse unless you are happy for a nightmare with complaining neighbours.

We started renting out years ago...on our first one we were naive. Tenant had a dog. Fucking thing barked and whined at all times. Neighbours constantly complaining to us as the landlord. Eventually we gave her notice.

Not so much your issue but the house was wrecked and stunk of dog. Needed new carpets and redecorating. Garden full of dog shit.

We never allow any pets now. Most landlords are the same as well. So if you have a communal garden you will end up with complaints as the dog shit carries disease so will put kids at risk!!!

If you fancy all that..go ahead

I would say no.
If they are so desperate for a dog then they should buy an appropriate property. A Labrador in a flat isn’t fair on neighbours or the animal.

there's no provision in the lease for the freeholder to charge for own time.