I had not thought of that point. . L/A will do anything , tell any lies to house bad tenants as they are under obligation to house certain people. What bugs me is that tha shirkers do not have to do any work to receive tax funded benefits. What about park maintenance grass cutting , litter picking , cleaning public buildings in return for benefits? The welfare state is over burdened.
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And that’s wrong, that is predijuiced again toward animal owners, to many people, animals are often part or more like the only family they have or may ever have, yea sure some pet owners may abuse the privilege, but that could be the same with children, and you descriminate against people with children you will be dragged through the courts and plastered all over the press as “unreasonable”
Exactly what damage can a pet do to a property? Chew up a sofa? Offer the place unfurnished, tear the carpet? Put wood flooring down inbetween tenancies, tear curtains, don’t put them up, let the tennant sort them out. The no pets rule is pathetic and stops decent people with pets finding and making a “home” if you are a pet owner you will understand that.
So you may say “get rid of your pets” (as I have been told before more than once) would you get rid of your kids? Of course you wouldn’t, but there are some people who wish to find a better home and the closed mindedness of people like you only increase the growing homeless and poor mental health issues of many good people who may merely exist in poor housing conditions,
What are you expecting 2 or 3 cats to do? Get under your house and destroy the foundations? Well if a cat or 2 would destroy your housing foundations, you need to have a word with your insurance company and higher a decent builder.
Scratch the carpet? put wood flooring down, tear the curtains, let the tenant buy there own then it’s there problem, or better still interview or speak to the potential tenant before hand, if your half intelligent and not reactionary then you can get a pretty good idea of what the person/family is like, it’s your place, take some responsibility and talk to potential tenants, don’t automatically tar certain tenant types with the same brush, before meeting and signing documents, to me this is common sense but a lot of you people rely on agencies to do this and they are only interested in getting paid regardless, they call that human nature, but you, I mean all that stand by this steadfast rule of no pets are often responsible (not nessessarily directly) the decrease in mental healths in this country, in case you hadn’t noticed there is a slight housing problem in this country, there are 1000s of good people on benefits and or with pets that would be willing for a long term arrangement with said landlord, but either way it comes down to unreasonable predijuice.
But no, this “pets in lets” subject will never go away regardless of what you think or say because people with pets deserve a chance to make a nice home.
“home is where the heart is”
and if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. This reply may get me kicked off here but I am sick to death responsible pet owners face in trying to hire a new property, this only seems to have come on in force over the last few years and this attitude toward pets in let’s needs to abolished or wiped out like a tumour, it’s just plain wrong, it might be interesting to see how many pet owners feel the same way, I might not bother to read the replies because I simply don’t care, but this needs to be said.
“don’t be part of the problem be part of the solution”
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There are many pets that landlords do accept more readily. Why has it got to be a dog what people want?
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@Darius
You clearly have no concept of the realities of the responsibility of a landlord, and the issues they face.
I suggest you educate yourself by reading some of the lengthy threads of this forum before ranting.
If the law permitted large pet bonds which aren’t capped at 5 weeks rent then it would be less of an issue. Surely you must see this? A LL is unprotected. No insurance will cover what’s necessary.
There’s a real simple way to look at it: “Their house, their rules”. They are the ones who are actually qualified to make the decision and be able to give an informed opinion based on real world first hand experiences and facts. They do not ban dogs and cats for no damn good reason.
Some LL can and do speak with prospective tenants. Some tenants will say anything to get what they want, make promises and lie through their teeth. Some LL live overseas or miles away. Some don’t want to deal with it as they work 60 hours a week and have a family. Hearing a tenant acting on best behaviour doesn’t prove a thing.
A dog may well “help” with someone’s mental health, but it may well significantly negatively impact the mental health of the landlord who can be faced with several thousand pounds worth of damage and clean up at the end of a tenancy. Why not have a rabbit, Guinea pig or animal less likely to cause damage? These help with “mental health” too you know. You will find a LL will often allow small caged animals once you have proven yourself to be a reliable tenant.
Earn your right to own your own home and put yourself in charge of what you can and can’t have, then there is not an issue is there. If you can’t afford it you can’t have it, the most simple rule of life.
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put a wood floor down in between tenancies WOW who is to pay for the floor and labour …The cost will be tremendous We do not want to solve it ,we do not want a problem in the first place… STORY. a few years ago I renovated a flat , guy comes along I only knew by first name. Surprise .He had worked with me on a building job . I knew he was “under the radar " so would not pass a credit check. No flat for him Year later ,putting a roof on a house for a mate he says” I have let one of my flats to D…" Same guy. Last week I was doing another roof for same builder “Col you dodged a bullet there D… is always late with his rent and the garden has a load of dog###### all over it” Phew
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Tenants without pets lie through their teeth too to get what they want and then go to do damage, maki g unauthorized alterations to a newly refurbished property that clearly doesn’t need any.
Despite what the contract says about alterations, it is impossible to enforce and if lucky a Landlord will receive a token payment back which does not cover the replacement or repairs.
Being a landlord is hard work, stressful and thankless in my limited experience (although I know some are blessed with good tenants)
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Hmmm, after reading Collins post regarding tenants modifying his property to integrate a fish tank I can confidently state Goldfish are now also banned!!
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I couldn’t have put it better myself Mark…. Well said!!
Well Darius, what a post eh! Sounds to me like your on a mission for world domination!
Without getting too personal your comments are bordering on idiotic and I can confidently state if you were the only available applicant on the entire planet I would never provide a home at any cost to you. Your attitude really stinks!!
Who the hell fo you think you are to dictate how a Landlord should run their investment.
These are not just Rental properties on here they are PRIVATE Rental properties and you would do well to remember that (provided you understand the difference) the owners of which have worked exceedingly hard to afford them and have every right to offer the accommodation to whoever they wish.
If you want to apportion blame for the situation you find yourself in I suggest that you look initially at the current government legislation who’s rules and regulations aimed specifically at Landlords by restricting the value of bond/deposit we are able to request. Secondly, ask yourself a simple question, if you were a Landlord would you believe a total stranger that his animal was “well behaved” and also his assurances that they wouldn’t transform the outside of the property into a dog bog! Also would the applicant agree to fund a complete and expensive deep clean to remove any trace of animal occupation at the end of the tenancy as the next tenant may have a pet allergy. I could go on and on but have to say it was very shortsighted and irresponsible of you to have pets in the first place when your financially unable to provide them with a safe permanent home. Venting at private Landlords for a situation created by yourself does you no favours at all but provides an insight to what a highly problematic tenant you might be.
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Well, I paid for wood flooring in my current place and I paid for it myself, with a rare concept called saving up, for the good of my current landlord,
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Yes I appreciate that, but not all pet owners allow that, some pet owners are responsible and clean, the fact you choose dodgy tenants isn’t other pet owners fault, better tenant vetting process maybe, like getting to know them maybe?
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Did this tenant ask permission to install an integrated fish tank?
It all a complete waste of breath. Tenants with dogs in particular are in denial of facts and things that stop them having what they want. No ability to consider with any real logic the other side of the coin.
Entitlement and ignorance is incurable.
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So somehow you’re blaming the landlord for bad tenant behaviour? Can you explain in detail how a landlord can possibly know how responsible a tenant is without witnessing it? References are worthless as a LL or agent will provide positive ones to get rid of bad tenant.
Why should a landlord give a property to a high risk one when there are tenants who don’t have dog. Every potential tenant acts like butter wouldn’t met when you meet them and before acceptance.
Notice how you have avoided responding to points which you know you have no argument against.
Write to your MP explaining that a larger and a realistic bond is needed aswell as easier measures for evictions of problem tenants. Only then will landlords be more receptive to dogs and dss. (And direct to landlord rent payment for dss)
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We are wasting our time i can remember his previous posts
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getting to know them better. Please help with this . If female should I go out on a Date ?. Live in ? As a lodger? Take the dog out for a walk? Smell what the house is like? So ten animal lovers want my place and 10 weeks later I know which one I like( Dog that is)
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I am not a landlord, my landlords aren’t any of my buisness, as long as I pay my rent on time I don’t give a monkeys, and my cats are fed and safe, I am a happy bunny
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Try a friendly informal interview or video call. A coffee and a chat in a friendly neutral coffee shop, you can get a pretty good idea of people on meeting them, I mean it’s your buisness take it or leave it, but cutting off a particular selection of the potential tenants you could have is a bit silly, these day everyone needs money and somewhere safe to live and either way you cut it, it is daft to strangle potential tenants because they have pets?, my references are flawless, my current landlord whose place I have been in for a number of years will be sorry to loose me but its time to move on and this whole pets in let’s issue needs to sorted one way or another, and a lot of decent people are feeling like this, is that right? What’s the solution? because short of spending many hours online searching for places enquiring and getting no replies there’s not alot more I can do is there?
Bear in mind people have various reasons to relocate, health, work etc, your house your buisness I get that, after all it may be your only income (or secondary) I get that, but there are pet owners who just want a quiet life in a place they are happy in, its the 21st century, is that so much to ask?
I mean if pets worry you that much, charge an additional charge for the pet(s) something like £10 per pet every week, I would be more than happy with that because I can budget for it, an addition charge every month could be decided between you and your new tenant, if the tenant isn’t honest enough to tell you about pets, don’t give them the place, it’s better than letting them moving in and finding out your tenant has a dog that stands there barking at 3am then you having to go through all the hassle of evicting them.
I am open for (useful) suggestions anyone has, either way this topic is not going to go away, simply because there is no room for negotiation, compromise seems to be a forgotten word these days.
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So how would you suggest getting to know them better Darius?
And over what period of time?
I’d really appreciate the advice.
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Personally I consider tenants with a single cat and charge a premium, but a lot can happen in 6 months and tenant can move on quickly so the premium might fall short still. I don’t consider dogs, the risk is too great, I may consider if tenant came highly recommended by someone I trusted really well, which hasn’t happened yet.
The only real solution is a change of law.
If I was in a tenants shoes I would introduce myself to every local agent (face to face) and try to get them to see me as a person rather than a name on the phone. Build rapport and try to get them to trust me and to recommended me to landlord. Offer to pay a premium. Offer a guarantor if possible.
I do think a cat is generally less hassle, I turned down a tenant with 3 cats, just too many for the size of my property and just too excessive anyway.
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