No pet policy, tenants have 2 dogs with pups, help!

No pet policy, tenants have 2 dogs with pups, help!

12:30 PM, 8th April 2013, About 11 years ago 15

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No pet policyWe have a no pet policy in our properties and we always make it clear to tenants.

Our tenants have been with us for three years (two different properties) and now have two dogs with FIVE puppies.

They don’t know we know yet as we’re really not sure how to deal with it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Sally


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Comments

Peter Harris

11:47 AM, 11th April 2013, About 11 years ago

I agree with most of the coments
I take a non refundable deposit of £50 this is cover such things a flea's which can accure 14/21 days after tenants leave. Also the OFT would not expect you to evict for a pet or smoker out of a property on this as a breach of tenancy etc
Dont stress youself but do keep and eye on the state of the property and keep tenant aware of your views with the breach of tenancy over their heads if the property is not kept up to standard especially the garden where they leave there deposits

Sally T

11:51 AM, 11th April 2013, About 11 years ago

Our standard tenancy does state “no pets without the express written permission of the landlord; such permission not to be unreasonably withheld”, I don't think it would be unreasonable to refuse 7 dogs (including puppies).
Most of our other properties are flats without gardens and bedsits where pets aren't really practicle so this isn't something we've come across.
The proplem is more that the puppies are already there reaking havock, so asking for a larger deposit now would be 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted' as they could refuse seeing how much damage they've done.
I don't think there illegal imoprt puppies as they have both parents.
Think we're going to have to wait it out a bit and see what happens, but after having puppies with out own dog I can't help fearing the worst 🙁

Eleanor White

12:45 PM, 11th April 2013, About 11 years ago

If tenants have a pet, and this is acceptable to the landlord, we are always specific in our contract to say that they can have that pet, and that one only, giving the breed, age and name of the pet(s) in question. Permitting a maximum of two dogs is perfectly reasonable. The puppies have been born now, and are probably well on their way to being rehomed when they are old enough, so you are now in to damage limitation unfortunately. If you get them to sign a new contract, you could increase the deposit at that point (in light of the fact that they now have dogs), and make it clear that you do not want them to breed from the dogs again. Perhaps once the pups have left it is worth doing an interim check, inventory in hand, to check for damage caused. Generally if they are good tenants, and otherwise not causing too much trouble, it seems like you might be best to just accept the situation and permit them to keep the two dogs, but with a proper contract in place. If you would like to contact me regarding the wording we use in our contract, please do so (eleanor@theonlinelettingagents.co.uk / 03300 883973 / 07500 118890).

Chris Hayden

18:44 PM, 11th April 2013, About 11 years ago

Its not the house that gets trashed...its the garden.

Dogs love to dig and bacteria in their poo can last in the soil for over a year.
This means if you have to re rent to a family there is a risk, all be it small, that the children could pick up the related diseases.

If you re let the property and dont disclose this information, you could be in trouble.So re letting to a family may take longer.

My nephew lost the sight in his eye through this very same event.Tragic and very unlucky!

2:17 AM, 4th May 2013, About 11 years ago

Did you try to confront your tenants about their pets?

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