What can I do about having a dog live with my in my apartment, even though the landlord may not want me to?

Question

I and my two roommates have lived in the same apartment building for over a year now. We used to live in the apartment on the second floor, where myself and another one of my roommates never signed a lease, while the other one did. Recently, the three of us moved up one level to the third story apartment. None of us have signed a lease yet. The people on the second floor and first floor both have a cat and a dog, granted, they moved in with the landlord knowing that they already have pets. I am nervous that he wont allow us to have the dog, but we already bought him.

The landlord never comes around, ever, so he probably would never find out that we had him, but what could he do if he found out? I'm not sure if I should just tell him we got the dog or not. How can I convince him to let us keep the dog for sure?

Answer 1

i would talk to him! better safe then sorry!

Answer 2

your landlord can evict you if he finds out that you have a dog.

Answer 3

This is one of the reasons that dogs end up in pounds! You need to e extremly honest with the landlord, these a LIKELY change that he WILL accept the dogs as he already let other dogs stay.

If he finds out that you brought a dog,, and have not received his permission then he LIKELY NOT to accept the dog!

Some apartments have certain dog size limits & other apartments have age limit on dogs such as older then 8months & some apartments have breed restrictions!!! You really need to find out from the landlord.

1. NEVER BUY A PUPPY just LOOKS, colour along, fur type-COLOUR, fur type and looks HAS NO INDICATION OF DOGS TEMPERMENT!

2. Consider your lifestyle-

4. Are you out more then 8hours a day

5. Consider your energy requirements, Size, Grooming.

6. Don't just buy because someone says this is the dog for you, people particular on yahoo answer will give you there particular favourite breed& what suits them, not what actually suit you.

7. Read all you can-THERE are alot of false information on the web and in books about different dog breed.

8 DON'T TRUST THOSE DOG BREED SELECTORS-MOST OF THE RESULTS ARE INCORRECT. Ex i search large breed dogs, and the Pomeranian came up, which of cause is a toy dog breed!!

9. NEVER BUY FROM A PETSTORE, BACKYARD BREEDER, PUPPY MILL OR NEWSPAPER, DON'T BUY FROM NEXT DAY PETS OR DOG BREED INFO, RESCUE AN ADULT DOG OR SHELTER PUPPY!

Top 10 Reasons for Pet Relinquishment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 17, 1998

WHY DO PETS END UP IN SHELTERS?

STUDY FINDS THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR PET RELINQUISHMENT

Denver-Every day in communities across the US a bond is broken. It’s the bond between people and their pets, resulting in millions of pets being surrendered to shelters each year. And little has been known about the reasons why until now.

In a recent study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) and published in the July issue of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (JAAWS), researchers went into 12 selected animal shelters in the United States for one year to find out why.

The results of the study show that the top seven reasons for relinquishment for both dogs and cats are the same. "These commonalties suggest that there may be similar ways to address relinquishment in dogs and cats," says Pam Burney, NCPPSP president. "For people who work in a shelter all day, there isn't always time to look at these issues. We have impressions of what's happening, but now we have objective data that will help us develop specific programs to address the issues that have been identified."

WHY DO PETS END UP IN SHELTERS?

STUDY FINDS THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR PET RELINQUISHMENT

Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment*

Dogs:

1. Moving (7%)

2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)

3. Too many animals in household (4%)

4. Cost of pet maintenance (5%)

5. Owner having personal problems (4%)

6. Inadequate facilities (4%)

7. No homes available for litter mates (3%)

8. Having no time for pet (4%)

9. Pet illness(es) (4%)

10. Biting (3%)

Cats:

1. Moving (8%)

2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)

3. Too many animals in household (11%)

4. Cost of pet maintenance (6%)

5. Owner having personal problems (4%)

6. Inadequate facilities (2%)

7. No homes available for litter mates (6%)

8. Allergies in family (8%)

9. House soiling (5%)

10. Incompatibility with other pets (2%)

http://www.petrescue.com/library/relinqu...

Answer 4

guess what i stiudied laws for tenants a few years back...GET A DOG!!!! your landlord cannot discriminate against a floor or two!! if they have dogs your intitled to own one to.....however do not renew the lease until he gives you a written paper as to why he will not allow you to have a dog and they can tell him to attach it to the lease and sign it...you want to have it looked over by a tenant represinitive...if he allows you to get one assure him it will get its cgc and you will forward a copy to him also give him an insurance policy namer so he will be reasured you will have tenents insurance on the dog in the case of a mishap he will not be sued..

Answer 5

I'd be honest with the landlord and tell him that you got a dog and want to know how much extra the rent will be now that you have a dog.  If there is already a dog and cat in the apartment building, he can't very well tell you you can't have a pet.  But you will probably have to pay extra rent for having him.  Honesty is the best policy and if you are up front with him I'm sure he will let you have the dog.  

Answer 6

it was pritty stupid to buy the dog before letting your landlord know!

You should definitley ask him if you can have a dog and if he says yes, wait a while before letting him know that you have the dog in the apartment so it looks like you bought the dog after you asked him!

If he says no then you are in trouble, you can get fined and kicked out especialy if he finds out that you have a dog after he said no.

If the answer is no you may be able to bargain with him and explain about the other pet owners in the building and maybe you can pay more rent to keep the dog. <-- he will like that idea.

It is unlikely that he will not let you hve a pet and let others have pets.

DEFINATLEY ASK HIME.!!!

goodluck

Answer 7

The best thing to do is to just tell him that you already have the dog, tell him that you didn't think it would be a problem because other people in the building had pets. Think about what would happen if he did come around some day and discover that you had a dog without letting him know, that outcome could be alot worse.

Answer 8

well it kinda sucks you didn't ask first see too many dogs turned in for the this reason, not allowed to have in apartment.  Just pray you can keep him and give him a good home.

Answer 9

Since you haven't signed a lease, he can do whatever he wants.  Sign a lease.  Make sure that in your lease either, pets are allowed or there is no mention of them what so ever.

Answer 10

If both the people below you have pets and you haven't signed a lease how does he know you don't already have a pet? I would try to keep him since you already have him.

He could charge you a large pet deposit or make you move, but without a lease hopefully he won't.

Answer 11

His building - his rules.  Probably would be better to ask then to try and hide the dog and get caught.  You might have to pay a pet damage deposit if you are allowed to keep him.

Answer 12

First, that would make me nervous to know I was living somewhere without a lease.  The landlord still has to give you 30 day notice (at least in most areas this is the law) if he wants you to move, lease or not.  But that gives you less rights.

Second, what did the landlord say about pets when your first buddy signed the lease?  If the landlord said nothing about no pets, then you should be fine.

At this point, if the people on the 2nd floor and 1st floor have pets, I'm pretty sure you would be alright having pets too.  If anyone says anything, tell the landlord it is not fair they can have pets but you cannot.  Offer a few hundred dollar refundable deposit (in writing) to show you are responsible about not causing damage to the apartment. Otherwise, I doubt anyone is going to bring the issue up.

Answer 13

Well, I think its best you tell your landlord about the dog, I dont want you gettin thrown out if he isnt happy, but when you ask him about having a dog, there are a few things you can do.

- Offer to pay a pet bond, incase the dog does any damage.

- Offer to sign a lease, when we moved in our landlord didnt want cats, we said no thanks to the house then, but he was really desperate for long term tenants, so he called back and said it would be fine to have cats

And just promise to be a really really good tenant, but by the sounds of it, he should be fine with it.