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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Considering not telling a landlord I have a cat.

101 replies

Mirrors123 · 27/10/2019 20:51

Please don't be mean, I am in pieces about potentially having to give up my beloved rescue cat.

I really need to move house. Buying is not an option for me so I have to rent. I have been looking for months and cannot find a single property that allows pets. I have one, well trained indoor cat.

Would it be a really stupid idea to just not tell the landlord and hope for the best? What would be the consequences if a landlord found out?

Helpful suggestions only please, the alternative is giving up my rescue cat who absolutely hated the shelter. Thank you x

OP posts:
viccat · 27/10/2019 20:57

How would you hide the cat and all the cat stuff during inspections? Most landlords will want to do one annually. And also any repairs that need doing would mean the landlord or their agent/contractor etc. visiting...

Have you actually asked landlords directly if they'd accept a cat? It's a bit of a blanket rule with lettings agencies to automatically say no pets without even asking the landlords, but many are actually fine with cats if you ask and maybe offer extra deposit or to have carpets professionally cleaned when you leave and so on.

AnotherEmma · 27/10/2019 21:00

On openrent.co.uk you can filter properties where the landlord accepts pets.

Batqueen · 27/10/2019 21:01

Extra deposit is no longer an option since the new laws on tenant fees. Certain pet charities have lists of pet friendly landlords (hopefully someone will be along soon who know which ones?) If not try googling? Do bear in mind that if you don’t tell your landlord and it’s a leasehold property you could put their lease at risk if their lease says no pets.

ShirleyPhallus · 27/10/2019 21:01

God, don’t do this. I’m a landlord and I wouldn’t mind one jot if you asked me for permission. But I would care a bloody lot if you just hid it from me.

There was a recent thread that had people on there who were so allergic to cats that they wouldn’t ever be able to live somewhere where a cat had lived. On that basis, it’s selfish to hide a cat and then potentially give someone in the future health problems.

Can you try a private landlord through gumtree and ask for permission first?

feelingsinister · 27/10/2019 21:03

We tried to hide a cat once, it didn't go well. Admittedly mine was a kitten but she was spotted by the landlord who it turns out did little walkabouts outside the house when we were out. She also clawed the wallpaper. We were leaving anyway but they were going to give notice for breach of tenancy.

AnotherEmma · 27/10/2019 21:06

Some helpful tips here
www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/renting/renting-with-pets/#T18uTj4Dq47MhRcb.97

SamBeckett · 27/10/2019 21:06

As hard as it is I would tell the LL , my ex LL called round every now and then and would of found a pet . no matter how much you clean before hand the LL will still be able to see / smell the fact that there is a cat in the house ( esp as its a indoor cat ) then both you and the cat could end up on the street.

Keep looking for some where that allows pets , ime most Housing Acs do .
Can someone else look after you cat while you find somewhere suitable ?
If its only going to be for a short time book him into a good cattery.
Speak directly to the LL and if they are willing to make a exception, you may have to pay a higher deposit. ( offer to if they seem unsure if they should let you )

Original poster
Mirrors123 · 27/10/2019 21:20

Okay, will keep trying. I don't want to deceive anyone but I'm feeling desperate. Just about to gear up the energy to ring round all the local estate agents again to ask if absolutely anywhere will take a cat. If push comes to shove I will have to give him up but currently the thought of that is almost too much to bear.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 27/10/2019 21:21

If you haven’t even called the local estate agents yet what looking have you done? There are some good suggestions upthread of places to try that you could find somewhere

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2019 21:23

Any chance anyone could foster for a while if necessary? I do hope you can find somewhere.

Frenchw1fe · 27/10/2019 21:29

As a LL I think that although I wouldn't want a cat if I had a tenant who paid on time and kept the house really nicely then I would not throw a tenant out if I suddenly discovered they had a cat especially an unfurnished home.
However letting agents will advise landlords not to accept animals so you need to approach a landlord directly.
For me a regular rent , uninterrupted and a well kept property are the 2 most important factors.

Original poster
Mirrors123 · 27/10/2019 21:32

@ShirleyPhallus yes I have that's why I said "ring round again"

OP posts:
Original poster
Mirrors123 · 27/10/2019 21:33

@Wolfiefan unfortunately I don't have anyone who would look after him, I've stayed in a house that's really not right for me and that's making me unhappy for a long time because I can't find anywhere that will accept a cat

OP posts:
SunshineAngel · 27/10/2019 21:36

Sorry, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I don't think you should do this. This is NOT your house, it doesn't belong to you. Having animals in a house can cause damage, a smell, lots of hair everywhere etc. Yours is an indoor cat, which makes it worse.

It is not right to have an animal in someone else's house if they don't want it.

I think it is best to be open and honest, and try and find a landlord who will be happy to allow your cat.

Winterdaysarehere · 27/10/2019 21:37

Last house we bundled dcats into carrier into the garage!!
This house we paid pet deposit for dogs - but cats don't have the run of the house, sadly after farm life aren't very house trained now so utility and downstairs only.
No inspections here - not in over 4 years!

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2019 21:37

I’m so sorry. Would anyone at the shelter be able to ask? Can anyone provide extra references about how good a tenant your cat would be?! If the worst came to the worst (and I hope it doesn’t) then some places arrange rehoming but the cat stays with you until a new place is found.
Without being too specific whereabouts are you? Someone might be able to help.

leomama81 · 27/10/2019 21:39

I find this a bit strange as I'm looking to rent now and finding loads of places that will accept cats, many more than not. Are you looking somewhere with not much on the market?

CatToddlerUprising · 27/10/2019 21:42

Open rent and gumtree for renting directly. Cats Protection have lots of guides and great information here- www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning/purrfectlandlords/private-tenants

leomama81 · 27/10/2019 21:42

Are you looking for somewhere furnished? That's the only reason I can think of that so many places would be ruling out pets! I also do think it is worth asking about one cat even if places say no pets - a lot of people will see a small cat quite differently from a couple of dogs!

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2019 21:45

I'm a Landlord and a cat lover and I think you should do it. Well, obviously it would be better to find somewhere that accepts pets but, failing that, just sneak it in.

Then you have two choices. You have to have notice of inspections - so the cat could go to a cattery for a couple of days. Inspections won't be more than twice a year. Or

Just brazen it out. The landlord will then have the choice not to renew your tenancy at the end of the initial term (normally twelve months) or to put up with it. They can't evict before the initial term as that would involve using a Section 8 notice, which is both costly and time consuming, and is also very unlikely to be successful in cases like this. The law actually says that landlords should allow pets unless there are compelling reasons not to. Depending on demand in your area, and how strongly the landlord feels about it, they may well decide it it's not worth giving you notice if you are a good tenant in every other way.

You may also be aware that all the main three parties have pledged to remove the Section 21 no fault eviction. When this eventually comes to pass (probably we're talking in 18 months to 2 years time) then the chances of eviction for something like this would be negligible.

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2019 21:46

Sorry - I meant to say inspections won't be more than four times a year 0 not twice.

Coyoacan · 27/10/2019 21:47

Well I would just not tell them, but then I'm not English. In fact, I have had to do so in the past and no problem. The no pets rule is ridiculous, IMHO.

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2019 21:51

In fact I've just been helping a family that were threatened with eviction if they didn't get rid of their cat (and apparently the letting agents knew about the cat when they moved in but changed their minds after four years!).

Anyway I wrote them a letter on the tenants' behalf showing that they understood the law and their rights and that eviction would be a long drawn out and costly process and did the LL really want to do that when they had always paid their rent and looked after the property and been good tenants. And surprise, surprise, no more was said on the matter:)

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2019 22:25

my ex LL called round every now and then and would of found a pet . no matter how much you clean before hand the LL will still be able to see / smell the fact that there is a cat in the house ( esp as its a indoor cat ) then both you and the cat could end up on the street.

So much wrong with this post. Firstly, LLs can't just 'pop in'. They have to give 48 hours notice unless it's an emergency (such as the house is on fire). Secondly it's very easy indeed for it not to be obvious that a cat lives there normally - the smell will only be from an unclean litter tray. Thirdly - 'on the street' is pushing it a bit. The OP may need to look for a new place after twelve months - but that hardly constitutes 'on the street'.

Hjhelenjane · 27/10/2019 22:29

I have 2 cats and have found many cat friendly landlords willing to take us on. Some purpose built blocks can't allow pets due to the Head Lease. I'm also a landlord myself and allow cats in my flats with garden access as I don't agree with keeping cats permanently indoors.