Apply for a house, don’t mention the dog?We're looking to rent a house atm but we have a dog. He's a major setback right now but of course I'm unwilling to ever give him up. I read about a new rule that came into place in January this year regarding landlords being unable to refuse dogs, despite this we're being constantly refused.
Can we use this to argue our case and allow them to let us rent? Does anyone have experience renting with a dog and how did you go about it?
I'm getting frustrated being denied for such amazing houses for a dog that will do 0 damage.
I thought about not mentioning it, but don't want to get in trouble later on.Apply for a house, don’t mention the dog?
It’s also not so much about actual damage a dog can or may do (although yes it is a consideration) but it’s more the fact that a dog living in any property will leave hair in the carpets, doggy smells in the property which again just come with the dog irrespective of how much you clean or whatever (no matter how much you clean, a house with a dog is never the same as a house without one!) a house where a dog has lived would require far more deep
Cleaning and possible replacement of carpets etc after you vacate than a non dog household..... most landlords just don’t want the hassle or the expense
Id honestly stop mentioning the dog. Get a house, then after a few months approach the landlord and request permission to have a dog at the property- put it all in writing and offer to pay extra for deep cleaning etc etc and see what they say? Some rentals will advertise as no dogs but actually in the tenancy agreement it may say that dogs are allowed by written agreement or similar.I thought about not mentioning it, but don't want to get in trouble later on.
For me, I'm willing to put extra down on the deposit to cover the expenses of replacing carpets (although we're looking for hard floor for this reason) and a proper deep clean. Although as well we're willing to do any cleaning we can upon leaving the property. In terms of other concerns they may have we're willing to do whatever we can. Still doesn't seem enough to sway some, hoping maybe the ones we're going to see will be more flexible and appreciate the extra cost and effort I'm willing to go to.
It's really disheartening finding a property that I want and being rejected outright.
Do landlords come by often? I don't wanna get caught with the dog before I request permission, plus if they say no then what do I do?Id honestly stop mentioning the dog. Get a house, then after a few months approach the landlord and request permission to have a dog at the property- put it all in writing and offer to pay extra for deep cleaning etc etc and see what they say? Some rentals will advertise as no dogs but actually in the tenancy agreement it may say that dogs are allowed by written agreement or similar.
Your landlord cannot come in without giving you at least 24hrs notice. They would only generally want to come over to carry out routine checks of the property periodically.Do landlords come by often? I don't wanna get caught with the dog before I request permission, plus if they say no then what do I do?
These are my only concerns with this, I don't want to get evicted for breaking the tenancy agreement. Unless the tenancy agreement says nothing about dogs then there's no grounds.
Lying risks losing the property anyway, plus all my money spent on it.
My current letting agents do quarterly house checks, they'd know if I'd had animals here. My last house they didn't visit at all and I had a dog I hadn't declared.Do landlords come by often? I don't wanna get caught with the dog before I request permission, plus if they say no then what do I do?
These are my only concerns with this, I don't want to get evicted for breaking the tenancy agreement. Unless the tenancy agreement says nothing about dogs then there's no grounds.
Lying risks losing the property anyway, plus all my money spent on it.
This is great advice. The thing with renting is to a landlord, you are a piece of paper with limited information (credit checks and references, which now a days don’t say much) so they don’t know you as a person, some don’t even get a name or any details. My parents are landlords through an agent and they know nothing about their tenants other than they pay the rent.I like the suggestion someone made up top - offer to pay a higher rent. I'm a landlord (with a letting agent), you get limited information on the tenants i.e. job, kids, pets etc so you make the best decision on what you know. I'd be tempted with that offer.
Another piece of advice, I did Facebook checks on the potential tenants too.... Make sure your Facebook is clean. Don't lie about the dog if you have photos of it on it.
Landlord should always give notice before popping over (think it’s at least 24hours) they shouldn’t just be showing up when ever they feel like it. I haven’t seen my LL in over a year now and he’s a relative of my partner. I know not all landlords are as respectful of their tenants though. I’ve lived in 2 rental properties and have never had an inspection, don’t think I’d cope with quarterly inspections tbhDo landlords come by often? I don't wanna get caught with the dog before I request permission, plus if they say no then what do I do?
These are my only concerns with this, I don't want to get evicted for breaking the tenancy agreement. Unless the tenancy agreement says nothing about dogs then there's no grounds.
Lying risks losing the property anyway, plus all my money spent on it.
Also the letting agent if they are worth their pay will do an informal check themselves. I always did. I used to. That is how I discovered a potential tenant was lying about who she was had a ban on keeping animals for life (had a dog), had a criminal past etc. I then declined her application but did not state reasons just said landlord decided to go with another party ie keep it professional. Well then the threats started. I was told I would be taken to court etc. She was dangerous. Further digging showed she had done the same to others etc including the RSPCA. I had to get the police involved.I like the suggestion someone made up top - offer to pay a higher rent. I'm a landlord (with a letting agent), you get limited information on the tenants i.e. job, kids, pets etc so you make the best decision on what you know. I'd be tempted with that offer.
Another piece of advice, I did Facebook checks on the potential tenants too.... Make sure your Facebook is clean. Don't lie about the dog if you have photos of it on it.
This is WILD! What the hell!!Also the letting agent if they are worth their pay will do an informal check themselves. I always did. I used to. That is how I discovered a potential tenant was lying about who she was had a ban on keeping animals for life (had a dog), had a criminal past etc. I then declined her application but did not state reasons just said landlord decided to go with another party ie keep it professional. Well then the threats started. I was told I would be taken to court etc. She was dangerous. Further digging showed she had done the same to others etc including the RSPCA. I had to get the police involved.
This is good to know! I hope other landlords will feel the same.I like the suggestion someone made up top - offer to pay a higher rent. I'm a landlord (with a letting agent), you get limited information on the tenants i.e. job, kids, pets etc so you make the best decision on what you know. I'd be tempted with that offer.
Another piece of advice, I did Facebook checks on the potential tenants too.... Make sure your Facebook is clean. Don't lie about the dog if you have photos of it on it.
Thank you! We're definitely looking at a long term let, for us anything short term wouldn't be worth it but I hope that wouldn't deter them. We're mostly looking at hard floor anyway and keeping the dog away from carpets just so he can't do any damage. Not that he has been a problem in our current property. (council rented)My current letting agents do quarterly house checks, they'd know if I'd had animals here. My last house they didn't visit at all and I had a dog I hadn't declared.
It might make a difference if you're planning a long term let, after 5 years they can't charge you for needing to change carpets so any damage the dog may cause would be irrelevent.
You're definitely better off being up front from the start and keep looking for a landlord that will accept your dog
Thank you very much! Appreciate this!So they can refuse, they just have to give a reasonable reason behind why. So say it is a block of flats then obviously sometimes in the leasehold the landlords obligations say that it can't be let with pets. So even if they moved in themselves they wouldn't be allowed pets.
Some landlords are not going to be keen obviously if they have just had new carpets or so put in so you could say, as part of the offer for your tenancy, dog wouldn't go upstairs, pay slightly higher rent which would mean slightly higher deposit (capped at 5 weeks rent), professionally cleaned at end of tenancy including having carpets cleaned etc. Make it as attractive as possible. If you have 2 tenants one no pets I hate to say as a landlord and an agent myself I will always pick the pet free person (even though I have pets and love animals). If I can help at all please feel free to ask I am a rural chartered surveyor so I used to specialise in rural lettings and estate property so we always had pets.
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