New neighbour, cat damaging my car
Discussion
Just after some thoughts/advice on this situation I find myself in.
Key info in a nutshell:
- it was not allowed in the communal hallway area
- it should not be 'a nusiance'
The cat was let out in the garden on the day the new owner moved in (13th July) and regularly jumps up on cars in the cark park area which is adjacent to the communal garden. I've been able to get video of the cat jumping up my bonnet twice in the last week and that's where the scratches in the bonnet are. The cat has also been found in the communal hallway.
My conversation with the co. sec - aside from making known my displeasure that he made a decision that we should all have been consulted on - referenced my knowledge of our lease agreement which says the following:
"Not without the consent of the Company in writing (not to be unreasonably withheld) to keep any, animal bird or other pet in the Property if any objection thereto is communicated in writing to the Company by the owner or occupier of any other flat in the Building."
I would probably have objected to a cat on the basis of the very issue I now find myself having - conversely I would have had no problem with a dog which could have been easily walked or kept on a lead; the communal gardens, as with most flats, are not enclosed so a dog would not be able to have the run of the garden as a cat does.
I think there are several issues to try and iron out:
1) each freeholder should have been given the opportunity to object prior to approval being given (and it's possible I would have been democratically overruled, which I would have accepted). Probably a bit late for this now anyway.
2) the co. sec. is now being vague about whether the condition of it being an 'indoor cat' was made - this seems quite key to me.
3) the cat being in the communal area is definitely in breach of the agreement made
4) the cat is being a nuisance, causing damage to my car(and presumably others)
What approach should I take, given that I was not able to raise an objection prior to the neighbour and her cat moving in? I have no issue with the neighbour, she seems pleasant enough and the cat's just doing what cats do - it's not his fault. However, I've been in the block 17 years and never had an issue until now. I also have no desire to fall out with her but equally I shouldn't have to live with paranoia about the car being damaged or the costs associated with trying to rectify it.
We have an AGM next week so wanted to get impartial thoughts on how best to approach things as that will be the time to raise concerns - it'll be minuted. I understand the neighbour plans to ask for permission to put in a cat-flap in her double-doors into the communal garden at the AGM.
Separate issue - since the arrival of the cat the resident fox appears to have upped its scent marking which is undesirable, particularly as the chosen location appears to be my nearside front bumper. I'd just like to be able to park my car and not worry about it being covered in cat scratches and fox piss...!
Key info in a nutshell:
- ground floor flat with communal garden access sold recently
- new owner's conveyancer snuck in an 11th-hour request to the freeholder (collectively us, the other flat owners) to get permission for her to have a cat
- this was NOT put to a vote among freeholders (and should have been), a decision was made by co. secretary. to allow the cat and presented to me and others after the fact as a fait accompli
- my understanding was that the co. sec. had attached caveats, namely
- it was not allowed in the communal hallway area
- it should not be 'a nusiance'
The cat was let out in the garden on the day the new owner moved in (13th July) and regularly jumps up on cars in the cark park area which is adjacent to the communal garden. I've been able to get video of the cat jumping up my bonnet twice in the last week and that's where the scratches in the bonnet are. The cat has also been found in the communal hallway.
My conversation with the co. sec - aside from making known my displeasure that he made a decision that we should all have been consulted on - referenced my knowledge of our lease agreement which says the following:
"Not without the consent of the Company in writing (not to be unreasonably withheld) to keep any, animal bird or other pet in the Property if any objection thereto is communicated in writing to the Company by the owner or occupier of any other flat in the Building."
I would probably have objected to a cat on the basis of the very issue I now find myself having - conversely I would have had no problem with a dog which could have been easily walked or kept on a lead; the communal gardens, as with most flats, are not enclosed so a dog would not be able to have the run of the garden as a cat does.
I think there are several issues to try and iron out:
1) each freeholder should have been given the opportunity to object prior to approval being given (and it's possible I would have been democratically overruled, which I would have accepted). Probably a bit late for this now anyway.
2) the co. sec. is now being vague about whether the condition of it being an 'indoor cat' was made - this seems quite key to me.
3) the cat being in the communal area is definitely in breach of the agreement made
4) the cat is being a nuisance, causing damage to my car(and presumably others)
What approach should I take, given that I was not able to raise an objection prior to the neighbour and her cat moving in? I have no issue with the neighbour, she seems pleasant enough and the cat's just doing what cats do - it's not his fault. However, I've been in the block 17 years and never had an issue until now. I also have no desire to fall out with her but equally I shouldn't have to live with paranoia about the car being damaged or the costs associated with trying to rectify it.
We have an AGM next week so wanted to get impartial thoughts on how best to approach things as that will be the time to raise concerns - it'll be minuted. I understand the neighbour plans to ask for permission to put in a cat-flap in her double-doors into the communal garden at the AGM.
Separate issue - since the arrival of the cat the resident fox appears to have upped its scent marking which is undesirable, particularly as the chosen location appears to be my nearside front bumper. I'd just like to be able to park my car and not worry about it being covered in cat scratches and fox piss...!
Edited by Funk on Tuesday 13th December 10:32
I have a cat. It clambers all over my car, the wives and probably the neighbors. There are plenty of cats on my street tbh.
Im sure there are probably street cats near yours that also climb on your car when you aren't watching. Maybe it was a pigeon, or a gull?
Annoying, maybe.
Life's too short.
Im sure there are probably street cats near yours that also climb on your car when you aren't watching. Maybe it was a pigeon, or a gull?
Annoying, maybe.
Life's too short.
FoxtrotOscar1 said:
I have a cat. It clambers all over my car, the wives and probably the neighbors. There are plenty of cats on my street tbh.
Im sure there are probably street cats near yours that also climb on your car when you aren't watching. Maybe it was a pigeon, or a gull?
Annoying, maybe.
Life's too short.
WTF...you are on a car drivers forum indicating that someone doesn't bother worrying about paint damage...?Im sure there are probably street cats near yours that also climb on your car when you aren't watching. Maybe it was a pigeon, or a gull?
Annoying, maybe.
Life's too short.
My starting point would be to complain in writing before the AGM to log your displeasure and why as per :
"....if any objection thereto is communicated in writing to the Company by the owner or occupier of any other flat in the Building"
I'd be really annoyed if a cat was damaging my paintwork. If it's an old banger, no problem, but I take care of my car including getting it ceramic coated and looking after the paintwork as 1) I like it to look good and 2) it will de-value if it's a mess in a few years. ... which is yours ? Old banger, let it go : Pride and joy, formally complain and follow the process.
"....if any objection thereto is communicated in writing to the Company by the owner or occupier of any other flat in the Building"
I'd be really annoyed if a cat was damaging my paintwork. If it's an old banger, no problem, but I take care of my car including getting it ceramic coated and looking after the paintwork as 1) I like it to look good and 2) it will de-value if it's a mess in a few years. ... which is yours ? Old banger, let it go : Pride and joy, formally complain and follow the process.
I tend to agree with the second post but feel the OP's pain. Could the car be covered or is that impractical? Has the car been devalued or would the scratches be similar to receiving stone chips and normal wear and tear that most cars suffer? If it's an average car, average paint etc I'd let the matter pass. If it's got custom paint then it needs a cover or garage as there will always be something out to get it.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Tuesday 23 August 12:42
fourstardan said:
WTF...you are on a car drivers forum indicating that someone doesn't bother worrying about paint damage...?
Pretty much everything on the road damages paintwork (grit, salt, pigeons, branches, washing, etc etc) so, yes, don't worry about it.The above being said - if the new resident is not complying with the T's & C's (which becomes a different issue) then look into getting her removed.
Funk said:
Just after some thoughts/advice on this situation I find myself in.
1) each freeholder should have been given the opportunity to object prior to approval being given (and it's possible I would have been democratically overruled, which I would have accepted). Probably a bit late for this now anyway.
2) the co. sec. is now being vague about whether the condition of it being an 'indoor cat' was made - this seems quite key to me.
3) the cat being in the communal area is definitely in breach of the agreement made
4) the cat is being a nuisance, causing damage to my car(and presumably others)
What approach should I take, given that I was not able to raise an objection prior to the neighbour and her cat moving in? I have no issue with the neighbour, she seems pleasant enough and the cat's just doing what cats do - it's not his fault. However, I've been in the block 17 years and never had an issue until now. I also have no desire to fall out with her but equally I shouldn't have to live with paranoia about the car being damaged or the costs associated with trying to rectify it.
I'm a director of the same setup - freehold of leashold flats, each owner has an equal share. Unless your lease is wildly different to ours (which seems very standard - it does not attract any significant queries from conveyencers) then . 1) each freeholder should have been given the opportunity to object prior to approval being given (and it's possible I would have been democratically overruled, which I would have accepted). Probably a bit late for this now anyway.
2) the co. sec. is now being vague about whether the condition of it being an 'indoor cat' was made - this seems quite key to me.
3) the cat being in the communal area is definitely in breach of the agreement made
4) the cat is being a nuisance, causing damage to my car(and presumably others)
What approach should I take, given that I was not able to raise an objection prior to the neighbour and her cat moving in? I have no issue with the neighbour, she seems pleasant enough and the cat's just doing what cats do - it's not his fault. However, I've been in the block 17 years and never had an issue until now. I also have no desire to fall out with her but equally I shouldn't have to live with paranoia about the car being damaged or the costs associated with trying to rectify it.
Edited by Funk on Tuesday 23 August 12:25
1) Not in my world. The leaholders don't have "voting rights" on what the Mgmt co (us directors) do. Thye DO have the power to vote directors off the board, and directors can rally votes to remove another director (we have done this once...). If residents/leasholders had the right to vote/veto everything that needs doing, nothing would get done.
2) You might want to consider offering yourself up as a Director. Then you'd have the inside track on all this. As a volunteer director I witness 20 other leaseholders who can't be bothered ot help with anything at all, ever, then complain when things happen they don't like.
3) You have no chance of enforcing pretty much all the clauses in the lease. What can you do? As a Director I can tell you the only actual real power we have is to sue, and try and take the flat off the lease rule breaker - which, is never going to happen (google it - you have sod all chance taking someones home off them, and rightly so). Become a Director then you have some influence. What we CAN do, which is no help to you, is hold up flat sales, or, as we have done, take all overdue management fees out of the flat sale money before it gets to the seller.
4) Not a lot - cats will be cats. If it's any comfort, I have an R8 with beautiful metalic paintwork and one of my cats jumps on the bonnet, walks across, then uses it as a jump to get up onto my garage mezzanine. I thought it was a neighbour's cat until I caught him in the act. He leaves paw prints but not even a hint of a scratch. They are clever animals and don't normally put their claws out when jumping on shiney surfaces, they have incredibly soft feet - kittens might, but not adults.
PurpleTurtle said:
Tell her you are happy for her to live there with the cat if she is prepared to pay for the damage every time it scratches your paintwork.
I've had the same issue in a communal parking area and it is annoying.
This. I got no idea why cat owners think they can get away with their pets doing whatever they want but other pet owners can't. I've had the same issue in a communal parking area and it is annoying.
Seen as most people treat their pets like bloody kids anyway; if a kid done paint damage scratches it would be the responsible for the parent to pay for the damage. Dog owners are told to keep their dogs on a leash, cant be left to roam around, why are cats treated differently.
If you cant keep a pet without being a nuisance to neighbours then you shouldn't keep one.
Had someone move in behind me and all of a sudden I have cat s
t in my garden. If I wanted to pick up cat st I would get my own bloody cat. Plenty of other cats on the street (13 years now) but clearly not left out during the day to cause all sorts of havoc. Never had one issue until this new person moved in. Got PIR water spinkler sensor set up but what a faff. OP I would try set up some sort of CCTV with the damage being caused. Use it to ask them to pay for damage.
Tell them its your pet so its your responsible for it, simple as that.
Edited by Chamon_Lee on Tuesday 23 August 12:56
We had an issue with cats crapping in the gravel by our front door. We sprinkled some cayenne pepper around the area, as it was covered by an open style porch it didn't get washed away too quickly and seems to have been enough to put them off. They've not come back since, guess they've found a new spot.
Failing that, try one of these near your parking space? Obviously results can vary, but might be a low cost simple solution.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pestbye-Waterproof-Cat-Re...
Failing that, try one of these near your parking space? Obviously results can vary, but might be a low cost simple solution.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pestbye-Waterproof-Cat-Re...
Tiddles will get to you one way or another.
Their claws put deep scratches through your lacquer and damage paint, in damp weather the grit sticks to their paws acting like sandpaper as they jump onto your nice warm bonnet and roof.
As if thats not enough they then go and curl one out in your borders.
Feline tts.
Their claws put deep scratches through your lacquer and damage paint, in damp weather the grit sticks to their paws acting like sandpaper as they jump onto your nice warm bonnet and roof.
As if thats not enough they then go and curl one out in your borders.
Feline t
ts.I had the same issue, disagree with people saying they don't scratch the paintwork my roof was full of claw marks from them jumping off when another cat came along to challenge. My neighbors were good enough to pay for a machine polish by the local mobile valeter (without me asking) but the cats were always back.
Squirty bottle with water in it, kept close by. When you see the cat on the car give it a squirt might take a few goes before you actually hit the target but when you do the cat will remember. It worked for me, the other problem was another cat leaving turds on the back lawn, used the same method got a bullseye whilst it was on the back fence. Haven't had any problems for a while now.
Squirty bottle with water in it, kept close by. When you see the cat on the car give it a squirt might take a few goes before you actually hit the target but when you do the cat will remember. It worked for me, the other problem was another cat leaving turds on the back lawn, used the same method got a bullseye whilst it was on the back fence. Haven't had any problems for a while now.
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