Help me fight my landlord (not literally)

[Doglover157]

I am desperate for a dog. Am a social housing tenant with a secure lifetime tenancy. Strictly no dogs allowed but somewhere in the pet policy it states something along the lines of “no dogs allowed without permission, evidence will need to be provided and will depend on an individuals circumstances” that’s my interpretation of it l, I can’t be bothered to find a direct quote. But nobody across any of their properties has ever been given permission. Obviously guide dogs and ‘registered assistance dogs allowed.

The registered assistance dogs appears to be a grey area as there is no official register for them. It’s more if they come from an accredited organisation.

Anyway, I have one child with SEN and one with emotional/safeguarding needs. I’ve provided letters from 3 different professionals, one about sen, one from a therapist, and one from a social worker all supporting my request for a dog. They are strong supporting letters. My landlord said no after the first letter, but I’ve since provided the other 2.

Does anyone know if I can fight this? And how?

Speak to your local Councillor first.

@Motorina yes you are probably right. The letter I have does state physical benefits in regards to getting my ds out of the house, routine, exercise ect. But definitely more emotional, but then assistance dogs for autism (which can come from accredited organisations too) are more for emotional needs, meltdowns ect.

For the landlords once one person has a dog they will start getting tremendous pressures from others to get them.
Then they will get pushback about noise and mess from people who are perfectly happy with the no dog rule.
It isn't surprising that they don't give permission.

@spicetime all the council flats here allow dogs.

Companionship, outside walks, routine, physical activity. I don’t want to go into the needs of my kids too much, but professionals have agreed a dog would help meet lots of their needs. Especially with the routine, physical activity ect.
A car definitely wouldn’t.

@spicetime I believe that’s the biggest factor in their decision. Not wanting to open a can of worms in regards to other requests!

By saying no to everyone they are not discriminating
A dog pooing on a balcony I’d pretty vile for the neighbours

I'm sorry op, I don't believe you have a suitable home for a dog at this moment . It's not all about what you want , you need to consider the dog, your neighbours and your landlord.
I think trying to manufacture reasons why yours kids should get one does a real disservice to the children who actually do need them.

@MauveMagnolia but why would the dog be poking on the balcony? Instead of on walks, beyond the first couple of weeks after injections? And why is my private balcony more disgusting than a dog pooing in a garden?

@Crazycrazylady im not manufacturing reasons. I’m going on the supporting letters professionals have provided. They would not do it if they didn’t think it was beneficial. These are medical professionals and social workers that know my children and their needs.
But I agree, I don’t qualify for a trained assistance dog from a charity or such and would not apply for one as there are children that need them more.

Are you sure another pet wouldn't have at least some of the benefits of a dog?
Can you encourage regular physical activity without a dog?
Could you volunteer to walk someone else's dog, I think there is a scheme called borrow my doggy online.
Or maybe do a swap to a house where a dog would be allowed? If you live central then I'm sure there would be people interested in a swap

I do understand the benefits of companion animal ownership and don't want to sound unsympathetic.

Very often private flats don't, my MIL owns her own London flat and couldn't have a dog. It seemed quite standard in the blocks she was looking at.

In your specific situation maybe borrow my dog would give you some of the benefits as a pp suggested.

Horse riding for the disabled is a fantastic scheme if you could access that?

It’s strange because everyone I know with a dog, lives in a flat. Our council allows dogs in their flats. Some of the housing associations don’t, such as Peabody, but people do and they don’t enforce it. I’m housing association too, but mine would enforce it.

I haven't got any useful advice I'm afraid but I sympathise. I pulled out of buying a flat in London because the other shared freeholders wanted to enforce the no dog rule in the lease. I've since bought one that does allow dogs, and I also know plenty of people who live in flats with dogs. Of course some breeds are not suitable for flats, but small breeds or lazier ones are fine. My dog is perfectly happy. The default should be to allow pets, with the landlord having to provide the burden of proof as to why they shouldn't be allowed imo. It's not up to landlords to dictate how their tenants live.

Hi @Doglover157 I live in a HA flat in SE London which has a pet rule of absolutely no cats & dogs and permission needed for everything else except fish and birds! BUT another tenant on the first floor does have a chihuahua size dog. She is allowed this because she had supporting documents from her GP. Also she got the dog after living here for a couple of years. So there is hope.
I would suggest trying again, maybe with help from your GP?

I can kind of understand with private landlords who rent out furnished flats and possibly have a high turnover of tenants. But I spent thousands decorating and improving mine and it’s a lifetime tenancy.

Sorry I meant help from your MP.

@victoriaspongecake

A first floor flat is not suitable for a dog. A puppy shouldn’t go up and down stairs. Dogs should have access to a garden when they want it. It’s not all about the owners wants it’s about the dogs needs too.

What rubbish. Dogs live long, happy, comfortable, fulfilled lives in flats.

When I worked as a housing officer, the organization providing the assistance dog was very particular about the home that the dog would have. In particular, they stated that there had to be outdoor space accessed from the property. We often had to find ground floor flats with gardens /bungalows or houses in that case.

If a dog is so important to you and you know of other HA blocks that allow them why don’t you move .

@TedMullins

I haven't got any useful advice I'm afraid but I sympathise. I pulled out of buying a flat in London because the other shared freeholders wanted to enforce the no dog rule in the lease. I've since bought one that does allow dogs, and I also know plenty of people who live in flats with dogs. Of course some breeds are not suitable for flats, but small breeds or lazier ones are fine. My dog is perfectly happy. The default should be to allow pets, with the landlord having to provide the burden of proof as to why they shouldn't be allowed imo. It's not up to landlords to dictate how their tenants live.

And the problem then is that the landlord has frequent complaints about antisocial behaviour from all the dogs that have been acquired. I speak from experience.

@Floralnomad Do you not understand how social housing works? You can’t just move. I can’t even be bothered to get into the many many reasons why that isn’t an option.
Before people suggest mutual exchanges, it is highly unlikely anybody with a 3 bedroom house with a garden would swap to a 3 bedroom flat. I also have spent a lot of money on my property. Moving is impractical and unnecessary.

I have an ASD daughter and 2 dogs, when she doesn't want to leave the house she will not leave the house. No amount of dogs needs a walk will change that.
You also cannot 100% guarantee the dog you buy will be good with children or suitable to be trained as an assistant dog.
There is a reason these charities have such a long waiting list because finding dogs with the right temperament and qualities are hard to find and the training takes a long time.
Please don't think just because a professional has suggest a dog will help with ASD that just any dog will help with ASD.
What breed are you going to buy?
There is a very big difference in dog breeds that hold qualities for assistance dogs.
What will you do in the flat of children don't want to leave or are having a melt down and the dog needs the toilet? Will you leave your child in the flat while you walk the dog to the toilet or will you deal with your child and expect the dog to hold it in? Are you prepared for the puppy to have accidents in your lovely decorated flat?

There are a lot of factors to think about seriously before you get a puppy - so many people have got them during lockdown and once the hard work has started they have dumped them as quick as they can.

I own a flat in London with communal gardens and we do allow dogs too on all floors. There are so many dogs here it feels like a doggy daycare centre. Including some surprisingly large dogs. My DH hates dogs and is on the board of directors for the residents management committee, but he doesn't object either.

During lockdown our downstairs neighbor had a french pug puppy. I asked him how he managed to toilet train the dog, he just said- lots of walks.

No but surely someone with a 3 bed flat in a block that allows dogs may like to swap . Quite honestly your responses seem quite snarky when people are only making suggestions .

I think if your tenancy states no pets then its going to be tough to get around that.