Asking landlord if I can have a cat

[reallywantingacat]

I privately rent and have lived there for a year now. Property said the standard "no pets" but the agent did kind of hint that there is often leeway there. Me and my 9 year old DS would absolutely love a cat. Not thinking of a kitten but maybe a 6 to 12 month old cat or older from a sanctuary, where we know bit more about their behaviour.
Anyway first things first, have to ask the landlords. I will need to email the agent (who is lovely) and he'll then pass request onto the house owners. How can I word it to give me the best chance of a yes? I am more than happy to pay for a damage deposit, fumigation upon leaving the house, repairing/paying for any damage and of course would be de-fleaing etc regularly. Don't want my email to sound desperate and too-try hard. Any tips on wording the email? They've been great landlords/agent so far and want to keep relations good.
Sorry if this sounds silly but I really want to get it right so I have the best chance of a ltitle furry friend for myself and DS. Thankyou

I rent direct from my landlady, and have a fairly casual relationship with her so just sent her an email asking theoretically about cats earlier in the year. This is from the email I wrote:

"I wondered whether you would be okay with me having a cat here? The catflap in the back door suggested that you may have had one here previously so hoped you may be okay with that - obviously I would reimburse any cat-related damage to furniture, fixtures and fittings etc, and happy to pay an extra cat deposit or something in advance if you were worried about that. It would only be a cat not a super-destructive kitten as well, since growing up in my family we always had rescues so would want to carry on with that."

She was thankfully fine with it! But I've been here a couple of years now and think she's happy I'm a quiet and non-problematic tenant by now... I had to get written permission with her signature on to show the person from the rescue centre who did the home-check.

mushypeas email is great. I'd go with something like that. I'm a landlord and I actively seek out tenants with pets. Partly because I feel it's my duty, as renting with pets is so difficult, and also because tenants with pets tend to stay longer and are less likely to hassle you for little things (as they're grateful to have a pet-friendly landlord:) ) and of course I tend to think that on the whole animal-loving people are just a nicer bunch than non-animal lovers ... None of that helps you in this case though I realise.

Good luck!

I had to rent a property out in London some years back and my managing agents gave out a standard letting agreement. It had 'no pets' in it although I'd actually had a housecat when I lived there and would have been happy for someone to have a cat while renting from me if they'd promised to make good any damage caused by it.

Additionally, it always made me feel better if someone asked permission for something rather than just going ahead and doing it. I like mushypeas' email.

I will admit, I got my cat and then asked my landlord at my tenancy renewal... but i was lucky as the agents were very cat friendly and made it easy for an additional clause to be slotted in.

I think personally, if you're a decent tenant willing to cover any accidental and unforeseeable damage, you'll be fine.. I didn't realise how hard it can be to find good tenants until friends told me the lengths their landlord went to keep them when they were looking to move as he'd been stung too many times.

I will admit to having a slight shake when I asked although I would've been willing to move with two small DC if she'd said no - but I loved that cat so crazy much

mushpeas your email is spot on, will be taking tips from that when writing my own

Good luck then. Let us know if you get the green light.

Email sent this afternoon - fingers crossed

I'm in the process of asking If I can put in a cat flap which has made me a nervous wreck to be honest. But my new cat, who is 6, isn't as energetic as my previous girl and looks to be struggling to get in through the window I leave open for him. Also, makes my life a bit easier as won't have to open & close the door 50 times a day!

Hope your landlord says yes :)

Fush: if the flap is to go in a double glazed door or, better still, the plastic bottom part of a double glazed door, you can just keep the original pane/piece of plastic and replace it when you leave. I can't see anyone objecting to that as nothing is permanent.

And good luck OP!

Unfortunately, it is an old crappy wooden door... but i got a YES will get online later and sort it out but Dcat will be chuffed!!

I got a YES to having a cat - YAY! They didn't even want a damage deposit or anything given the way I apparently already look after the house so well
Very excited!

Well done.

Have you been online looking at rescues yet?

I've been looking since before I sent the email , I think that's what prompted me to finally ask if I could have one! They're all so lovely I want them all

Let us know when you find one

That's wonderful. Another cat gets to leave a rescue & have a proper home.

Have you seen a cat you want?.

Yay - so chuffed for you!!

I am properly excited for you! I got my cat in March. She is so fun to have around.

I have seen a cat I would love on my local Cat's Protection League website who I have kind of fallen in love with , she was born in March so a lovely age, petite shorthair in a gorgeous white colour with tabby patches. Fine to live with children, litter trained. I have just emailed to enquire about her

Hope it works out, she sounds just right.

Thank you so much for this! We are just about to write that letter to our landlord and I'm quite nervous. I'm a landlord myself (the house is in a different country) and I'm very happy for my tenants to have pets. But it is so notoriously difficult here in the UK. We really hope to have a kitten by Christmas :)