Renting with puppy - declined and heartbroken

[OatMilkLattes]

Hi, recently moved overseas. This one is going to be a bit long so thanks for reading!

We found our apartment on a site (a bit like rightmove) and made sure to filter on ‘pet friendly’ since we wanted to get a puppy quite soon after getting here. Found our current apartment and was told that it was pet friendly. We’ve been waiting years to get a dog - and now is the perfect time. I am not working at the moment so have plenty of time for training etc. I absolutely adore dogs and have been so excited.

We went to see a puppy on the weekend, who I fell in love with. Absolutely loved him and he seemed to really like us and was relaxed around us. I emailed our landlord to ask what the process was as we wanted to put a deposit down on this dog. She came back to me and said that the apartment is absolutely not pet friendly as they have allergies.

My DP handled everything whilst I was in my home country, incl singing the lease, so I asked him to send me a copy. And there it was - no pets allowed :( he feels horrible and terrible that he didn’t check this properly, but said he just took the brokers word for it - which I do understand but this is a huge lesson learnt.

Anyway - whilst I sympathise with the allergy situation as I know how terrible it can be, we did go back to our landlady through her broker (who told us pets were fine!) with an offer to increase the rent and pay for a big fumigation type clean at end of tenancy to remove pet allergens. This was rejected.

The landlady then said actually it’s her daughter who has the allergy. This is a one bedroom apartment and her daughter lives with her husband and children in her own house elsewhere so I can’t imagine they are thinking of moving in here at anytime soon. I also don’t understand if why she is THAT allergic, that she could even live in such a pet friendly apartment block. Every single one of our neighbours has a dog, every time I get into the lift to go to street level, there is a dog - I’m not exaggerating!

I don’t know if anyone has any suggestions here. I know we messed up with the contract. But I am totally heartbroken, on my own in a new country and would love a little puppy around. Lease was signed for 3 years and I am so upset!

Sorry but if your landlord says no then there’s nothing you can do, doesn’t matter what the reason is. You can’t get a puppy in that property.

The only thing you can do is see if you can get out of the lease

Getting a dog whilst renting is always going to be difficult. Even if this landlord had said yes, you’d got the dog, and then you had to move? There’s every chance you wouldn’t have found a dog friendly place and you would have to rehome it. Unfortunately the landlord is under no obligation to change their mind, it’s their property.

Usually I would agree, but most of the rentals here are pet friendly and it’s uncommon to not allow pets - so we’ve been extremely unlucky.

I do understand that the landlord is under no obligation. I am just frustrated that it was listed as pet friendly, we got confirmation from the broker it was pet friendly and I am trying not to be annoyed at DP for not checking the contract properly upon signing :(

Your grievance should be with the broker , but even still the landlord isn't going to change her mind by the sound of it . Is it too late to find something else ?

Can you search for someone to take over the lease? 3 Years is a Long lease to sign.
Alternatively could you volunteer at a local shelter, walk someone’s dog locally or do dog sitting in peoples homes? At least to get some dog interaction.
It does really sound very disappointing

Get out of the lease. This will be helped if you have proof that the broker misrepresented the facts.

Make a huge almighty fuss. They will let you break the lease.

Yes I do think we will have to get out of our lease, which is a huge shame as it was a great deal of effort and money to get this apartment.

we may see if we can get something else in the building since every other unit seems to allow pets!

This is also a great idea. I have reached out to shelters for volunteering opportunities and awaiting to hear back!

In reply to @Flowersinmai

Glad you like the Suggestion.
For the lease it really does depend on the country you are in. Unfortunately you DH read and signed your lease. The rules were clear.
If someone taking over the lease is permitted that may be a better path to take. There may be a renters association in the country - they should be able to advise you

The rules were not clear because the broker misled you.

You are about to start a 3 year tenancy. The LLs may be quite willing to break the lease. They want tenants who will have a cooperative relationship with them, and that is not you.

Of course it depends on the country you are in.

But this is 3 years of your life, so do not accept the situation quietly because dh made an understandable error.

Are you in Germany? Because landlords are not allowed to ban pets here.