Rentals and cat

[KittyBeloved]

Hi, we're having to move into another rental as our current landlord is selling up. We have a very lovely 11 year old cat, but most rentals say no pets. I'm frantic about what to do about this. I'm hoping that the 'no pets' rule is a way of not giving carte blanche to someone moving into a house with 3 St Bernards etc, and allowing the landlord the make a decision case by case. For now I've ticked the 'no pets' box, otherwise we won't get shown any properties! What would you do? Wait til you find a place you want then raise it?
Any landlords, estate agents on here who can give a sense of whether that would make it likely that we'd be refused permission to rent the place?

Certainly wouldn't put me off renting to you - I've been on both sides. As a landlord I rented to a family with a dog once and the agency made them pay an extra large deposit. I'm not a huge dog fan (and they can cause more damage) so I thought that was fair.

Before when I was younger and I was renting with a cat in tow, I did the same thing as you - just ask the agecy to ask the landlord on a case by case basis and say you'll get the soft furnishings / carpets professionally cleaned after to remove any hair. Stress that the cat is older and so won't be tearing round and up the curtains.. Good luck!

Thanks @LaMereDuChat! That's very encouraging to hear. 🙏

Just bumping in case anyone else has any experience with this kind of situation? 🙏

I am looking for somewhere at the moment and it's very tricky to find any that will allow even one well behaved puss.
I've considered lying, but really hate the idea and especially don't want the stress of having to hide her later on.

I'm a landlord and am happy to consider on a case by case basis. I would prefer someone with a cat like yours rather than young children.

I’m a landlord and I’d be fine with one cat. Never ever ever a dog again after what happened to the garden last time (💩💩💩), and I would advertise as “no pets” if my lovely tenants ever left, but would definitely be fine if someone asked me about having a cat.

I've also given permission for a cat before as a landlord. My property is a second floor flat so only suited to a house cat anyway. In the case in question the tenant was American and had already had the cat declawed (as I think this is more commonly done in the US?). I would absolutely never make that a requirement. The agency suggested a larger deposit and a professional clean and that seemed reasonable to me.

A different point of view ... my DH is allergic to cats so I was careful to only view properties that clearly stated 'no pets'. I viewed a property and liked it but then spotted a cat basket in the main bedroom... I did query it and the landlord agreed to have all the carpets professionally cleaned before we moved in. But that was several years ago ... not sure if Landlords would do that now when rental properties are in such short supply.

As above. Except I would also warn them against it, unless it's a house cat as the road 'looks quiet enough, but it isn't and it sadly claims a lot of cats lives, I'd never have a cat here.

I'd put 'no pets' & discuss it if you get offered the house, going through agents us the problem. They want an easy life, so often don't ask the landlord, just say no.

best of luck !
🐱

Like most landlords, I state 'no pets' in my ads, but I'd never say no to a cat if a prospective tenants meets all the other requirements, i.e. steady job, financially responsible and not triggering my gut-ometer.

I actually once helped a tenant find a cat when they asked whether they could have one...

We would also say yes to a cat despite advertising no pets. It would be a no to a dog though, unfortunately.

I found it harder to go through an agency. I now rent through Open Rent from a lovely landlord. However, I offered a slightly higher rent and a good reference from previous landlord (including about the cats not causing any damage). I also showed their vet records to show they have a health care plan so had regular flea and worm treatments. When they did the 6 month inspection they were really happy.

Being able to speak to the landlord directly helped as estate agents were useless.

It's a bit annoying to hear that people would accept a cat even though the listing says no pets!

I know! It hasn't actually come up as an an issue as we've had tenants with cats before now too, and they just asked the agency to ask us, and it was fine. It's mostly to discourage dogs, but your point is a fair one, and as there is literally a cat flap etc there now, should our current tenants leave, I will specificy that cats ARE allowed. Not everybody would think to ask.

Our agent's form only had two boxes - pets allowed or no pets.

I’m in almost the same boat OP and it’s really worrying. Am separating from DH and moving out with the children who love the cat. I was in competition with others for rentals so had to tick the no pets. My plan is to leave the cat with DH initially (I’ll have to make sure she’s fed every day) and then after I’ve been there a month or two explain that he can’t look after now and ask permission for her to come. Am hoping if they see by then I’m a good tenant it will be ok 🤞. But so worrying as what to do if they say no? It would break the Dc heart not to have her with us and it’s obviously a difficult time for them as it is. So if they say no I sadly think I’d have to bring her anyway and if spotted say my dh was away and im looking after her temporarily.
she doesn’t cause damage and it’s an unfurnished place so I can’t see the harm, of course would pay for carpet cleaning anyway at the end and with 3 kids fairly resigned to not getting deposit back!

I think most landlords would do it on a case by case basis. Also think it would be worth highlighting the scratching posts you'd bring etc to lessen the chance of damage if it's furnished. Good luck!

There are relatively new laws about renting with pets, landlords have to give a good reason to disallow pets and cannot take extra money. Research your rights here, because landlords can and will take the piss!

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-standard-tenancy-agreement-to-help-renters-with-well-behaved-pets

It just seems that the new rules have made things worse in some ways, in that landlords could previously charge an extra deposit, now they feel they can't take the risk, so just say no pets.

It's not the law though - it's just a recommendation as landlords cannot be forced ti use the government's model tenancy agreement

New standard tenancy agreement makes it easier for tenants with pets to find rented accommodation
Landlords using the revised Model Tenancy Agreement encouraged to no longer issue a blanket ban on pets.
The Model Tenancy Agreement is the government’s recommended contract for landlords.
For those who choose to use the revised Model Tenancy Agreement, we are bringing an end to the unfair default blanket ban on pets introduced by some landlords. This strikes the right balance between helping more people find a home that’s right for them and their pet while ensuring landlords’ properties are safeguarded against inappropriate or badly behaved pets.

And I agree with @hugoagogo that the fact that no increased deposit may be charged for pets actually makes renting more difficult for tenants with pets.

I rent out one flat, my agents have always said no pets on their site. Last tenant had two cats, who they had a reference for from their previous landlord. Agent asked if I was prepared to accept. Deposit wasn't increased, but they agreed to pay for deep cleaning at the end of the tenancy. No issues when they left, so I wouldn't have a problem if another tenant asked.

Thanks everyone for replying. This gives me much more hope, so I really appreciate it.

And good luck @User0610134057, I really hope it works out for you! 🤞

My house and room adverts generally say 'cats welcome'. I actively seek out cat owners (and I'd take pets over children any day).

Even if the ad says 'no pets' (which I don't think is allowed anymore anyway), then ask the individual landlord. If you can't find anywhere and get really desperate then just don't mention you have a cat and move in anyway. You can always make it disappear for a few hours around inspection time if necessary. Loads of people do this - really - loads. And I've helped a lot of them with the temporary cat care during inspections. (I also work for a cat welfare charity and so meet lots of people with cats in rented accommodation. Huge numbers of them have cats without the landlords knowledge). In practice, as long as you are a really good tenant in other ways, no landlord is going to go to the trouble and expense of evicting you because you have a cat, should they happen to discover that you do, particularly as they are not likely to actually win the case anyway, regardless of what the contract says. So if you do move in with a cat and they find out later it's very unlikely that anything will happen as a result (apart from creating some bad feeling). Yes they could issue a Section 21 no fault possession claim (ie eviction notice)at the end of the fixed term (until these are also abolished), but if you are a really good tenant in other ways they are unlikely to want to do that either.

Thanks @thecatneuterer really good to hear.

I have friends who tick the no pets box, move in, put the cat in cattery for 2 weeks or leave it with family/friends for a bit, then sneak it in. If the landlord calls by unexpectedly (which they shouldn't), they just say they're looking after it for the night while their friend is in hospital.