My Tenant Wants A Dog (Even Though We Have A “No Pet” Agreement)

Hehe we are like The Landlord's little army ;-)
The truth is though that the law *in this country* is contructed in a way that tenant can behave like a spoilt kid and still leave unscathed and landlord needs to be the responsible adult plus pick up all the bill.
But it looks rosy from outside doesn't it, Dave? should try it some time and you'll get what calculating risk is in this cosy business and will stop contradict yourself.

For landlords to refuse pets without a reasonable excuse and proof has been illegal since 2016, as well as its not illegal anymore to break that part of the contract, if a tenant wants to keep a dog, they can as long as they don't damage the property or as long as no one else in the property is allergic, if a tenant is smart enough, they can take their angry landlord to court, sue them, claim money and then once contract ends naturally because it would be illegal to break it without justifiable reason (and no, just because the place was advertised as no pets allowed, does not count as justifiable because let's not forget, saying you can have no pets to a tenant is illegal since 2016) so aside from making yourself look like an animal hating jackass, a smart tenant could sue you

I did forget to add that any landlord that has taken their tenants to court for breaking that rule has lost the case, and the tenant was allowed to stay in the property with the pet until the contract has ran out, and with even more pro pet groups growing, landlords are losing even more stance, and as a landlord you should really - read - the law and not assume what the law is, e.g. A tenant could take you to court and sue you for damages and harassment if you try to force them to get rid of the pet or threaten them with eviction, and get a nice claim of several thousand pounds, because there are numerous reasons a tenant could use anywhere ranging between an illegal contract (one that states you can't have pets) to repression of self worth and their own personality same way as hair colour, decorations of the room and etc, as they all fall under the same legal protection, so there are many ways for a tenant to sue the landlord for thousands if they were to get assy with them about them getting a pet, look up any legal cases that have been going on around these subjects through the legal index or talk to a notable lawyer and not one you get behind a corner of an asda store

@Landlord

1. The tenant doesn't have to have a pet when they move in, even if they move in and sign a contract saying no pets they can get a pet on a later date and ask as a - courtesy - now at that point as a landlord you have no right to say no to them, and even if you do, they can still legal go over you and get a pet, because again, illegal to say no

2. The only time a landlord can tell a tenant to leave whilst contract is active, is if the tenant has a proof that the pet has damaged the property or one of the other tenants is allergic to it.

3. Since 2016, you cannot evict a tenant if you cannot provide a valid reason of eviction, e.g. Not paying rent e.g. Breaking the - legal--parts of the contract

A landlord cannot under any circumstances evict a tenant for having a pet, again, look at any case of landlord vs tenants after 2016, the no pets claus is illegal that's why it's ignored by court

And I'm speaking from experience suing my previous landlord for £500 and then still keeping my deposit and moving out to a nicer place after

A smart tenant with the right lawyer can bankrupt an ass hole landlord

1. I also corrected that area by pointing out what classes as reasonable excuses for a landlord to ask a tenant to leave as the examples were made not by me by Robert Jenrick after ordering the gov to rewrite the tenancy model and remove all restrictions on pets, with minor exemptions like the ones i named

E. G. Damaging property, one other tenant being allergic

Not happy about it? Take it up with the government

2. Section 21, according gov website -

You will have at least 2 months notice but you don't need to leave when this ends, your landlord has to follow certain rules for the notice to even be valid, your landlord must go to court to evict you lawfully, and you can challange an invalid notice in court.

The full eviction process takes 7 to 8 months.

If your landlord tries to evict you themselves without a court, it's considered an illegal eviction.

That's on gov website, you can read it yourself, again, I've dealt with a landlord like you in court. It's not hard as long as you know what you're talking about.

Wow... The straight up douche-baggery here is astounding. Selfish and ignorant, every word in this blog post is a shining example of everything wrong in this world. Sounds like you are in the wrong business and in it for no other reason than looking for a quick buck by taking advantage of people needing a home, using their income to supply you with the luxuries in life they will never afford, yet are paying for you to enjoy, while you do NO work to earn that rent. I bet you wear a bluetooth earpiece in everyday environments and your building(s) are just *peachy* to live in.../s

@FedUp are you ok hun? You seem stressed.

Oh yeah how dare this asshole ask instead of just sneaking in a dog? How dare this dick change his mind after a few years of being an awesome tenant, mind you, and check up on what you think. Your previous experiences don't mean shit, unless they are with the same person. if they did anyone should stop doing anything after a shit experience. Truth is you refuse to trust a grown man to take care of a dog after he has proven he is trustworthy. Of course he would be disappointed. Agreement or not. He just asked, and you are acting as if he has put a snake in your bag. He should leave so maybe you get to appreciate the luck of having a decent tenant, cause many people don't need a dog to mess up your flat.

Seeing as this discussion is still going on

1. Advice to any tenant, just don't do any deals with landlords that don't let you have pets, boycott them if you have to

2. About the reprecautions the landlord speaks about, in reality the only issue of you having to go through court after your landlord spends 6 months trying to evict you(because legally not allowed to kick you out on the spot and you can dispute as much as you want) use that time to find another landlord that lets you have pets, also read your contract, most landlords have out of date contract and you may be able to sue the landlord for numerous reasons.

But point is, the only downside, or upside, depending how you look at it, you won't have to deal with assholes landlords like this, because there are plenty of landlords that allow you to have pets

Boycott assholes, rent or buy from people that are more understanding.

Ps:landlord in these threads would class as an asshole

Well I certainly hope tenants with pets boycott me!

@Vaidotas,

Thing is mate, I'm a pet friendly landlord and I doubt you'd even get a reply let alone a viewing for one of my properties.

Ever noticed how shit tenants tend to get shit landlords?

Christ I get an email every time one of you wankers comments on this you know. It's even more boring than that bloody Nigerian prince who still hasn't paid me.

Get over it Vaidotas, wish you'd boycott this thread.

OP I'm going to keep this really brief.....Your an absolute over privileged asshole and "No pet" policies should be in all honesty illegal if there is no reason stated initially. We're in a day and age where getting onto the housing market is hard (I'm in the middle of saving right now) and quite frankly you should have just as much right to own a pet as a house owner if there is no reasonable reason why stated at the beginning of the tenancy agreement then it should not be enforceable.

Firstly, your blog post completely fails to mention assistance dogs and that you have no right or reason to refuse them. In fact, the tenant doesn’t even need to notify you if they get an assistance dog. Because they are classed as mobility aids. So, enjoy that fact.

Secondly, you’re acting like the simple act of *asking* is a betrayal?! Are you actually out of your mind? How has he betrayed you by asking a question? The whole point of “asking a question” is asking for *your consent*. It’s a recognition of your authority and respectful of whichever decision you take on the matter.

Your mindset is absolutely ridiculous.

I stumbled across your blog and I am disgusted with your choice of words in this. Regardless of the fact you want pets in your property or not, the way you talk about your tenant is horrible, and I am glad you are not my landlord because of how disrespectfully you speak of your tenant for asking for permission to have a pet - you don't ask you dont get, you're entitled to say no, but you don't need to be a rude name
calling prick. Well done for being a tosser.

I got a few paragraphs in and had to stop reading. Round about the part where your stupid fucking arse said, “I couldn’t take dog hair on my alligator rug” then followed up by “I hate animal cruelty etc” yet you have a fucking rig from an animal?

You thick cunt.

I’m a landlord, I’m 25, I also have a dog. I allow my place to have pets, simply because people shouldn’t be denied that due to the fact you’ll have to clean carpets or paint when change of tenants. But btw you should be doing that between tenants anyway, money grabbing fucks. There’s so many positives to having tenants with pets. Get to the the tenants, you’ll soon tell if they could
Look after a pet properly or not. 85% can. Don’t make the food suffer cause you want more cash. Letting property is a business, no mate how big/small. So therefor landlords should have expense... it’s not a fucking isa account building uo every month.

I wish fewer landlords were like you. Our housing system isn't a fair game. Some people will rent for their whole lives through no fault of their own.

If it was up to business owners, tenants wouldn't even move in, because that would save more money.

That's what reading this article feels like as a responsible renter. The UK desperately needs more housing stock.

OP you sound like an unhinged dickhead. The tenant is asking before doing anything. Re being vindictive/threatening to mess with their plumbing: you shouldn't be in a position of responsibility over other people if you're going to hover threats over them if they don't play ball. You sound, excuse the phrase, mental, and dangerous, and you shouldn't be renting if that's your attitude.

Wow, just came across this post, saw the original comments from 2017, and was just enjoying the back and forth with my virtual popcorn, then I saw that you where still replying into Nov 2020!

I'm a tenant but I like to think pretty respectful. I always pay my rent on time, I do whatever I can to keep the property in good order. I lived in my last place for 3 years, and got back 90% of the deposit, and the only bits that where taken out where for painting some walls, which I agreed with my landlord because I didn't want to do it.

I've been living in this new property for 5 months or so now, and I like to think me and the landlord get on pretty well, he is very friendly. I don't have any pets, right now and I remember seeing in the tenancy agreement that it was no pets.

I'm not bothered about the laws or what my landlord can and can't do, I respect him and the house too much just to get a pet and not ask (even though that's what everyone seems to say), but I do want to ask for one. I think one the main takeaways from your post is that you where annoyed they asked for a pet even when the agreement said no. SO my question is, how can I ask my landlord if he would consider a pet, without ruining the relationship. I don't want the renewal to roll around and he kicks me out!

I feel like its worth noting the house already has a cat flap from (I'm guessing) the previous owners, and only 3 rooms in the entire house have carpet the rest are all laminate ( I think thats the right term) flooring, as well as that, the neighbors have cats that routinely crap in the garden that I always clean up (When I see it).

So do you think it is worth even asking him? Am I risking too much by putting him in an awkward position? I want to stress that he can say no without reasonable grounds, like it is his house, if he wants to say no he can. But I am also willing to re-carpet and fix whatever damage may be done from the pet!

You are an incredibly dense and entitled asshole. You surely deserve the worst from your tenants and I wouldn't be surprised if all your disappointment comes from tenants deciding to take a piss in the middle of your house along with their dog on the day before they move. You act as if your tenants are not human (which is actually your case). Just wait for a housing market crash, I hope you go bankrupt.
Btw, shitty landlords seem to get shitty tenants. You're no exception to this rule.
He decided to ask instead of sneaking a dog in and making you wait half a year to get rid of him. And your stupid senseless mind wouldn't notice that's also the term of the contracts you make, so no point in making them short if that's the time you'd need to get them out. Really, you deserve no respect as a landlord from a hypothetical someone who was desperate enough to rent something for you.

This post is an interesting case study on what kind of bad landlord you can get and why you absolutely need to meet the landlord before signing anything and be very careful who you do business with.
You are very skilled at projecting your own shitty personality to your "black-hearted", "backstabbing" tenant lol. At the same time you sat there to think about the ethical elements of keeping a pet (and any reason you can pull up, you know you don't give a shit about them) in a small space but not about the ethics of denying people companionship by an animal let alone the situation they may be in when they decide to take a big responsibility. Caring for a dog is not easy and people may have hard times in their life when they decide to get one.
And also you feel backstabbed by a pet request and I suspect you would be surprised if a tenant felt the same if you wanted to raise the rent opportunistically or charge a lot of extra money for small things. This is not how maintain a good relationship with someone who uses your property every day and could make you spend quite a lot of money out of pocket to be able to rent it again at the prices you want.
You wouldn't admit it but you are exactly what you accuse your tenant of and probably worse. I'm willing to bet you do minimal to no maintenance on your rented property, charge unfair prices for anything, ignore your obligations as landlord but expect tenants to fulfill theirs fully. You are probably the kind of senseless asshole who enters the house unannounced and feels backstabbed when you end up with police up your ass.
Good news is you are likely to be a magnet for renters who don't give a shit about your property.

Landlord - you have my sympathy, not that it's any consolation for having to put up with all this hatred - it was always going to come though, coz it's 'animals', and people do get excitable on the subject. Just from post 146, we learn that because you felt let down when somebody agreed he wouldn't have a pet and then asked to have a pet, you apparently:
1. do minimal maintenance;
2. charge unfair prices;
3. ignore your obligations;
4. enter the tenant's house unannounced.

Hysterical!

I suggest you scrap the comments facility altogether - most people's opinions on the internet are total garbage, probably including this one. None of the above comments has extended my knowledge one bit, so it's all a waste of time really.

And another thing: thank you for running this site. It's always a good read and, unlike some, I can see when it's tongue-in-cheek and get the info I'm after.

Reply -

Thank you for taking the time to reply to the comment.

Obviously I did not mean "Fewer landlords who adhere to the terms and conditions."

I mean fewer landlords who view tenants as an inconvenience and a hurdle to be overcome.

You may not see it that way, but it's how this article feels as a renter with very limited options.

Again, housing reform is desperately needed in the UK for all our sakes.

I am a dog Walker. When I moved into my flat i left my chi with my widowed mother (chi visits most days). Recently my long term client is goin thru a break up. And has to unload a dogs as she can’t take all. I really want to take my favourite. I love this misunderstood lawnmower sounding dog. But feared my landlord of 3 years and no problems would evict me. Iv lost a lot during covid. My father I kiss
So much. I don’t want to lose this dog Iv developed a great bond with

Wow! Well, only thing for it, toss him out coz he wanted to build/add to his life! Honestly, you landlords, any insurances can be covered by a mutual agreement of more rent surely? why don't you just offer up your homes as holiday homes and save yourself all the hassle? Because you clearly get all hot and flustered when people want a family or security or simply don't want to feel lonely when they gave nobody, and treat your house like their home! You don't live there! Your tenant does! So why create rules as if your living in the property with them?

I agree with Alan,the tenants before my current had no pets and pretty good jobs,not sure why they rented that was a nightmare calling me every week, once literally because kids had been messing by his car and wanted gates, he didn't get gates.
As for my current tenants they have paid me approximately £78,000 in rent since he moved in around £40,000 of which finished up the mortgage including costs to me over the near 10 years I have made around £28,000 profit.

So along with his £650 deposit, plus the fact we agreed i wouldn't replace carpets etc, if damaged by the dog during his tenancy, also if his dog (a German shepard) does dig in the garden chew the door frame etc im pretty sure its been worthwhile.

And a new law has now been passed making unlawful to blanket ban on pets and a valid written explanation should be provided within 30 days, not that this is relevant to me as I have 2 boxers and I couldn't live without them, and my tenant has been brilliant.

The Consumer Rights Act (2015) states that: "a no pet clause should allow for the tenant to ask for permission to keep a pet. The landlord is not allowed to unreasonably refuse the request. ... If you, as a tenant, were to take this to court, then it is likely that you would win the right to keep a pet."

Under the new Model Tenancy Agreement, announced by Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets. ... Currently, just 7% of private landlords advertise pet friendly properties, meaning many people struggle to find suitable homes.28 Jan 2021

What an interesting and bizarrely long thread, years ffs! Still, I'll add my two pennies because I'm bored.
I've rented all my life, never paid a penny late, look after my home and I had a dog for a 5 year period. Let me tell you a story - Once, the pooch chewed the shit out of the kitchen door on bonfire night. Chewed right though it! Joy. I told my landlord who, like me, wasn't over the moon about it. As the dog is mine, we arranged for me to replace the door.

The end.

Hardly the end of the world so what is it with you fucking landlords and your OTT, over dramatic, no pet obsession? People all up and the down the country can't and will never be able to afford to buy a house due to this batshit market we are in and have to turn to renting. There we are met with greedy landlords charging relative small fortunes for ok houses* and raking in the dollar. Despite that, 93% odd of you are 'No pets', straight off the bat on your adverts. I Dunno how you sleep at night.

*some landlords are excellent and great value.

OP, I'm sure you're a decent bloke but you should like an utter bellend of a landlord. The sooner you the rest of the 'no pet for no good reason' brigade are forced to be a bit more socially responsible, the better.

It's been interesting watching this develop, Mr Landlord. I'm curious about where or what or who you rent to that has caused such damage and soured your views entirely on the matter.

It would be genuinely interesting to see a poll of landlords about why they decline pets - financial/business risk, lack of trust, hygiene, desire for control of property during the rental period ... Etc. And by contrast, why some landlords are able to build trusting relationships with their tenants and allow pets.

(I am still getting notifications 😅)

I am watching this thread...

It's all one game of musical chairs. You know, the one where organiser ruines the balanced ratio of people and chairs, then sits back and watches the players fight among themselves.

The law is ridiculously skewed towards tenants, so much that landlords have no other way of protecting themselves than being really choosy, often employing stereotypes and prejudice.
On the other hand, the market is skewed towards landlords (each time I was looking for tenants, I've got over 100 enquiries - seriously??). So landlords still have upper hand and are able to choose. They also don't have to lower prices or upgrade properties in order to get tenants - if they do it's for their own pride/sense of decency.

So the system is f****d and we players at the bottom only occasionally look up and bicker at those who can unf**k it. But day to day we just focus on biting each other.

Thanks Landlord, but mainly I agree with J.C -

The real problem is our housing system, the rest of us are players trying to make it work.

If fewer people were landlords, would there be fewer renters? possibly not, mortgages are cheaper than rent yet harder to get. In the meantime you aren’t forced to invest in property, there are alternatives.

One day I’ll manage to unsubscribe!

I enjoyed the article thoroughly but the comments that have ensued make me wish I had discovered this article in another decade’s time. The ups and downs. Tenant vs Landlord - the ultimate battle.

I arrived here because I currently have snuck a dog in and me and the better half have been rumbled. Well-behaved, flat unfurnished and literally everything is ours, yet 3 months after purchasing Ronald (yes if I humanise him you should feel more empathetic), the landlord supposedly heard a dog barking on a visit that they didn’t schedule and wants us gone.

Personally i feel exceptionally offended by this turn of events. We paid 6 months up front and ran in to a litany of problems from the off. 3 of 4 kitchen appliances needed replacing in the first 2 months. Call me sceptical but complaining, rightly, from the off didn’t help. Yet only 5 months in, it’s easier to ask you to leave rather then even work through the idea you have a pet that you shouldn’t have. From our perspective this is ridiculous. And this to me is where Landlord’s make their own problems.

Landlord’s genuinely do not generally treat their tenants as if it is their home. I am sure some do but as a serial renter, the average landlord is about being paid on time and you’re nothing but income to them. You aren’t humanised and they interact with you as though you are below them. So should you get a dog without their consent? Not if you want peace of mind.

I see both sides. However, much like being a responsible tenant in the general upkeep of the property, in the same way if you’re going to let your pet damage the property and not remedy the issues, you were probably going to be a shit tenant anyway. And as someone that has spent £160,000 in rent in 11 years, I certainly dislike being tarred with the same brush as people that don’t respect other people.

So yeah. I am that asshole that broke the tenancy agreement. But when I waited 16 days for my washing machine to be fixed and had to wash clothes in the bath because my dog smells well, yeah; it’s fucking swings and roundabouts.

Holy shit you're a whiny asshole. The guy just politely asked for a dog and now you're screaming about betrayal and going on a rant about him and claiming he stabbed you through the heart. He just politely ASKED.

Sorry to break it to you but the whole point of you being a landlord is that you get PAID to relinquish control of your property. You can't both accept money for your mortgage AND expect full control of your house, you are being paid to hand over part control to the tenant, if you don't like them asking you a simple question about pets THEN DONT BE A LANDLORD. I swear you sound just as bad as those B&B owners who get pissy when a gay couple stay over.

I'm so glad the government is passing pet legislation through to knock you people down a peg lol, and that's coming form a landlord myself. Our bad reputation is caused entirely by people like you.

Well with section 21 abolished, how would this change..

Wow! I’ve seen a lot of things on the internet but this infuriates me deep down. You lease an unfurnished property but you are afraid that the dog is going do what? Pee at the walls and chew the carpets? Just agree with the tenant that they’re allowed a dog as long as they provide proof of house insurance with accidental pet damage and there it is, problem solved. Have some respect for the humans you’re rightfully taking money from and take into account they might feel lonely. Companionship is a human need and some people find it hard in the current society mate, please don’t be so inconsiderate you’re not leasing to robots.

Interesting post, I am in the same predicament.
I allowed my last tenant a dog, she left the property last December in a terrible state. The dog had chewed and urinated all over the fairly new carpets. The cost to me just for the carpet was approximately £1700 plus journeys to the property ripping the carpet out and disposing of it then arranging for a new carpet. (this is not to mention the kitchen worktops and doors with scratch marks all over them which had additional costs).
This expense (which wiped out all of the profit that year following section 24) and days of my labour/headache would not have happened if I had just said no.
I advertised saying No pets after this, 10 months later the request has come through for a dog.
I'm not sure what to do after reading this blog...toying with the idea of asking them to do an annual professional carpet clean, them to take out accidental damage insurance (someone previously mentioned) and very slight rent increase, plus only small dogs.
Would have been better off with my investment in a savings account this last year...