Anybody else have problems renting with dogs?

Question

We have to rent, with today's house prices we cannot afford to buy. However we have dogs. We've found the shutters are UP when it comes to finding landlords who will accept dogs. I'm not talking about millions of 'em, just two. Seems to me landlords don't want pets, children, smokers, DSS (we only come into the pet category), they just want tenants to pay the rent, and live elsewhere! It's very depressing feeling like a leper. Also I'd be interested to know if there are any areas in the UK with a better approach to people with pets than in the South West. Thank you

Answer 1

It's a huge problem in the US as well.  

Someone was telling me something about the government is helping people buy houses in London since the cost of living is so ridiculous, perhaps you could look into that?  I don't know the details as it was a story from a friend of a friend kind of thing.

You could also look for a college or university area and see about renting a house (if they do that there).  Those people are usually less strict about pets.

Answer 2

Depends on the place you are renting and the size of your dogs.

I am a landlord, I rent whole houses out to people with dogs, but I expect them to keep the place clean and pick up dog droppings.

I once rented to young people who begged me to let them get a shepherd pup, I love dogs, felt sorry for them, so said "o.k. but clean up after the dog". They  agreed, then moved out during the night a couple of months later and left me with a house full of dog turds, in some rooms they just threw blankets over it and went on as usual - can you blame me for not wanting dogs in rentals?

I also have two small duplex apts. and there is no place for big dogs there - no fenced yard and the few times I have permitted dogs, the tenant has left so much damage and dog dirt that I will never allow that again.

Look at it from the point of the landlord - I have had terrible experiences when I rented to people with dogs, thousands of dollars worth of damage I had to repair - it is not a matter of "just want the tenants to pay the rent" - I expect tenants to be responsible and not trash my places.

As to house prices - they are at a 15 year low - now is the time to buy, then you will know what it feels like to take care of your own property and not blame the "bad" landlord for wanting to keep his places in good repair.

Answer 3

How big are your dogs? A lot of places will rent to people with dogs but only as long as they weigh about 30 pounds or less. It's much harder to find a place that will accept large dogs.

Answer 4

my bf and i are renting now, but thank god our landlord doesnt give a S**t what we do, because we currently have 6 dogs (1 is a foster baby) and 5 cats (3 are foster babies). i do know that if we do ever have to rent from anywhere else we will have trouble. we are not willing to get rid of our babies, so our next step is obviously buying.  

Answer 5

Hiya

I know EXACTLY what your going through, i have 1 medium size dog (X- breed) and i am in the North East, it was sooo hard for us to find a rented house that would let us take the dog ! but like some one has already said on here we can thank all the non responsible dog owners for that !.

When i got this new house i offered (as well as the bond and first months rent) a £500 dog deposit to 'prove' that my dog wasn't destructive and that i was indeed a responsible dog owner i know £500 is a h**l of a lot of money when your moving but i seen it as a savings account haha, i knew 100% i would get my money back !!!!! in the contract i made them put in that they would come and check the house every few months to see that we had not trashed it etc.. on the understanding that when our term was up that me and my dog would get a really good glowing reference from them for future landlords ! (they never took the £500)

I know the North East is quite away from the South West but it's just as hard to get nice accommodation with dogs here so cross us Geordie's of your list haha.

*EDIT*

anglesey boy - your a complete and utter di*k  !!!!

Answer 6

they don't want dog in their houses because they are dirty, they stink and cover everything in dog hairs.Dogs belong outside in a kennel or better still in a Cantonese restaurant  

Answer 7

you can thank all the irresponsible pet owners who have allowed their dogs to be destructive, and just assumed that the "deposit" will cover the damages..

thank the ones who have abandoned their pets in the apartments when they got evicted.

Thank those who allow their dogs to bark and howl at all hours and disturb other tenants..

thank the people who allow their dogs to be aggressive, and therefore making insurance for property with dogs expensive.

Try seeking a private renter.. someone renting a home, townhouse or duplex.  A private renter is more capable fo bending rules than a corparate complex.  Bring your dogs with you so the landlord can see what nice, well behaved dogs they are.  I once took my dog with me while seeking an apartment..  the landlord was only allowing pets in the apartments with old carpet, however she was so impressed with Fred, that she wanted to put me in the apartment next to hers.. which had brand new carpet!

  

Answer 8

Try CraigsList for your city, and select dogs in the options. It is indeed frustrating since so many people are loosing their homes and need places to rent. Also check your local shelter Website. Many will have a list of apartments that will rent to pet owners.

Answer 9

Im finding that problem as well at the moment, were currently in rented accommodation but have recieved notice to quit as the house is on a farm and they owner wants it back for a farm worker, we are really struggling to get somehwere else within our budget as well, as we have 2 dogs and cats.  Our current landlord is ok as the cats keep the vermin down on the farm, and the dogs are scared of the livestock.  I would try some of the local farms, estates as they quite often have empty places, that are reasonably cheap, only downfall is that they are usually out of the way or any main bus routes etc.

Answer 10

Email Chetco.  She once posted that she helps people find solutions to problems like this through an organization she works with. She is the highest Pet score on the US YA boards, so it should be easy to find her email just by looking at the high scores. Even if she doesn't have an answer, she would probably have a few good suggestions for you.

I don't rent, Thank God, but I do know that it is difficult for the landlords too.  If a renter's dog bites someone the landlord, as property owner, can be liable for damages.  That makes it hard for a landlord to feel safe enough to rent to a person with dogs. I know we won't rent to a dog owner.  It is just too much of a liability risk now-a-days especially with all the pit attacks. You want to support pet ownership, but you can't take a chance on a dog killing someone on one of your properties.

Answer 11

Dogs trust are running a survey about people in rented accomodation who own dogs and other pets. As far as i understand it, they will be planning some sort of campaign in the future to try to change landlords views. It can't come soon enough in my opinion.

I also am stuck living in a rented house with a tenancy agreement that states strictly no pets. When I first moved in i had no pets but now I have a 5 month old puppy, 2 cats, 1 gerbil, 1 hamster and used to have 1 rabbit and 1 more gerbil before they passed away. My landlord does not know that i have any of them at all. He does quarterly inspections of the house to make sure it is being kept in good order. These are always by appointment so i make sure that the rodents are put down in the cellar, the cats go outside and my partner takes the puppy for a walk. Then i remove all evidence of food bowls, litter trays etc.

I'm not saying that lying is the best thing to do, but it works for us. If i was to give advice on what would be the best acion to take it would be to try to get a property from the council or a housing association, unless it's a high rise they normally allow pets.

Answer 12

I have encountered this problem so many times, and I know exactly what you mean by feeling like a leper. What happens is, OTHER irresponsible pet owners ruin for us responsible pet owners, and then no one wants to rent to us. The landlord that I have now, said no pets. But I managed to have my 2 dogs and 2 cats here without his knowledge, and when he DID come, I said that I was babysitting for my dad. I would move before I got rid of my babies!

Answer 13

I have never had trouble renting with pets.  How big are your dogs???