Should landlords be stopped from banning pets

Sandy_123

Labour has laid out plans for sweeping housing reforms that would reduce landlord powers to kick out tenants or stop them keeping pets.
What do you think?

Sandy_123

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

Personally I think pets should be allowed

OverlyAnxious

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

Having seen the damage some pets cause, I think it should be the landlords choice.

Cartini

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

The Landlord should have the final say.  The property is, at the end of the day, his / hers; the tennants are only temporary custodians (so to speak).

janer1967

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

Landlords property landlords choice 

Lots of people are allergic to pets and not everyone appreciates barking dogs so may be necessary to refuse as other tenants maybe affected as well

life

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

Wish I could have a dog in my rented apartment. I believe having a pet would help a lot with someone having anxiety and depression. It's hard being around people and I barely leave my place so would welcome allowing pets in rented places. Also when someone rents a place it should be as if that's their home so I honestly think it should be allowed. I agree the house should be kept clean at all times. so if the landlord wanted to check each month or so and make sure it's not in a bad state. 

Cartini

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

life said:

Wish I could have a dog in my rented apartment. I believe having a pet would help a lot with someone having anxiety and depression. It's hard being around people and I barely leave my place so would welcome allowing pets in rented places. Also when someone rents a place it should be as if that's their home so I honestly think it should be allowed. I agree the house should be kept clean at all times. so if the landlord wanted to check each month or so and make sure it's not in a bad state. 

The only way that would work is by the landlord making unexpected visits, which isn`t allowed.  The tennant must be given at least 24 hours notice of a visit; this is long enough to make most places clean enough to pass the check.

Sandy_123

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

I think it's down to the pets owners to be responsible for the animals, I've had 2 cats at home and they've not done anything to the property. They were groomed, flea stuff every month, cleaned up after etc.  Only thing the cat did was scratch funiture accasionally. It's same with dogs, if they have proper owners

leeCal

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

We once had dogs. We both worked and while we were away they trashed the kitchen/diner carpet and chewed our pine furniture. It was our own fault but thankfully we owned the house and so bore the cost etc. 

We did have a parrot once in a rented house once who managed to chew a very large hole in the curtain which was obviously too near the cage. Pets do cause damage when your least expecting it unfortunately.

poppy123456

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

They should have a choice. I have an indoor cat, he's 9. He never scratches anything other than his scratching post. I flea him every month when it's delivered from cats at home and have done this every month since he was just a few months old.

My landlord agree to my cat but i did have to pay a deposit of £135. If i move out and there's no damage, i'll be refunded the money. I would have paid £500 if i had to!

life

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

I had to pay £700 deposit/bond and I'm not allowed pets. Isn't this the very reason for deposits, if any damages they can take it from the deposit. Would be nice to have a pet but don't think that will happen where I live at the moment. Maybe one day.

poppy123456

Landlords have every rite to refuse pets

life said:

I had to pay £700 deposit/bond and I'm not allowed pets. Isn't this the very reason for deposits, if any damages they can take it from the deposit. Would be nice to have a pet but don't think that will happen where I live at the moment. Maybe one day.

I didn't have to pay any other bond or deposit other than £135 because of my cat. If i didn't have a cat i wouldn't have needed to pay anything. My LL accepts DSS tenants and she doesn't charge a deposit or bond to those tenants.

Biblioklept

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

I keep going back and forth on this, I understand the "their house, their rules" thinking but also it very much helps further the class gap and makes it harder for those on lower incomes to own pets. 

Pets are proven to have huge benefits socially, emotionally and to mental wellbeing.

If you're liable for any damage then I feel like you should be able to have a pet. 

Of course there'll be people that take the mick but I'd assume they tend to be the same people that would leave damage/rent arrears etc anyway so not sure that can be used as an argument. 

Tephy

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

I think it all depends on the tenant. Some tenants really look after the property and if allowed animals would look after/ do any repairs caused by pets as needed, looking on the property as their home. Others just can't be bothered. 

Godiva

I owned a leasehold flat and the condition of the lease was 'no dogs or birds'.  If I had either I would be in breach of the lease.  If I were to rent the flat out I would have had to adhere to these stipulations whether I wanted to or not.

Sandy_123

Yes pets should be allowed in rented housing

Hmm I've broke a few of those in the past 

L_Volunteer

Really interesting thread with lots of different points of view!