Discussion
As a landlord of a block of five residential flats, who has "no pets" part of the terms & conditions of the tenant's tenancy agreement.
Over thirty five years of being a landlord, I have had numerous bad experiences of tenants breaching their tenancy agreements, by introducing pets into a rental property without consent, ie dogs, rabbits, monkey and cats.
I am presently having an issue with a tenant taking into her first floor flat stray cats, their entry to the flat being via "arranged" open windows. I emphasised both the first floor flat and the arranged widow, since these stray cats are acrobatically using a neighbouring property's fence, to climb on to an outbuilding's roof, then miraculously jump to the flat's open window.
To resolve the situation I thought about capturing the cats and taking them on a hundred miles journey (joke), or fixing some sort of outside window restraint, that would prevent the cats entering the flat. Are there any other alternative measures I could take.
Footnote, amendments to be heard to the present Reform Rights Bill will be heard in the House of Lords on October 14, one amendment covers tenants who receive consent from their landlords, will have to pay an additional deposit security.
Over thirty five years of being a landlord, I have had numerous bad experiences of tenants breaching their tenancy agreements, by introducing pets into a rental property without consent, ie dogs, rabbits, monkey and cats.
I am presently having an issue with a tenant taking into her first floor flat stray cats, their entry to the flat being via "arranged" open windows. I emphasised both the first floor flat and the arranged widow, since these stray cats are acrobatically using a neighbouring property's fence, to climb on to an outbuilding's roof, then miraculously jump to the flat's open window.
To resolve the situation I thought about capturing the cats and taking them on a hundred miles journey (joke), or fixing some sort of outside window restraint, that would prevent the cats entering the flat. Are there any other alternative measures I could take.
Footnote, amendments to be heard to the present Reform Rights Bill will be heard in the House of Lords on October 14, one amendment covers tenants who receive consent from their landlords, will have to pay an additional deposit security.
A considerable number of 'stray' cats are actually, owned fed and cared for. The cats just like to do the rounds of where they can get additional food, a bit of fuss and attention and maybe somewhere more peaceful than home for a quiet nap.
If it was discovered that you were kidnapping (catnapping?) and transporting these wandering felines, you would more than likely be opening a Pandora's box of trouble for yourself that would make a few visiting moggies pale into insignificance.
As for preventing windows opening, aren't they also emergency egress in the event of a fire?
If it was discovered that you were kidnapping (catnapping?) and transporting these wandering felines, you would more than likely be opening a Pandora's box of trouble for yourself that would make a few visiting moggies pale into insignificance.
As for preventing windows opening, aren't they also emergency egress in the event of a fire?
Edited by GliderRider on Wednesday 24th September 17:46
Super Sonic said:
What is the situation you wish to resolve?
amongst other things, I imagine the primary one is not have his flats filled with fleas and every piece of furniture, door frame and skirting stinking of putrid cat piss if it's a male.===
One of the places I used to rent I only lasted 3 months before I had to terminate the tenancy myself due to an infestation of fleas in the sofa and eggs between the floor boards and under the edge of the skirting. If I was wearing a light colour, I could watch them jumping on me. Inevitably they got into my own bedding and clothing (which was fine when I moved there) and all had to be thrown out when I left. Numerous sprays, powders and fumigation bombs didn't cure the problem based on the complaints the landlord continued to receive from the girl who moved in after me.
@ the OP, just serve the tenant their notice to leave but don't say it's because of the cat(s). Either that or force them out by increasing the rent to the absolutle maximum amount you can every 6 months until they take the hint. Unfortunately most pet people are all entitled and think that the rules don't apply to them so ignore any "strictly no pets" rule, safe in the knowledge that you are unlikely to ever find out about it.
Edited by Tisy on Wednesday 24th September 20:29
Slow.Patrol said:
Since last year, cats are required to be microchipped by law.
Trap them, and get them scanned. No microchip, no owner and they can be taken to the local shelter. The shelter generally won't hand them back if your tenant "claims" them unless they can prove ownership.
All the local shelters to me are packed out and desperately seeking people to foster other cats so the chances of a shelter taking on a load more because they are inconvenient for someone who doesn’t even own them are slimTrap them, and get them scanned. No microchip, no owner and they can be taken to the local shelter. The shelter generally won't hand them back if your tenant "claims" them unless they can prove ownership.
I currently (about to move) live in a block of 21 flats and to say the rules are flouted is an understatement
Vans in car park? tick (about 8, inc one of mine)
Dogs? Tick - 3 I know about
Cats? (they are not in the lease, so....) around 30
Everyone gets on, no real issues - people need ot be people. ONE, just one cat, was pissing in the corridoors and that was sorted by the owner forcing it to use a window for its exit route. However, I was on a flat part of the roof recently and the piles of cat s
t are comically huge. Someone's cats also st on the mian lawn.
But... everyne is happy, the dogs don't bark, so life goes on.
Cats don't just piss on stuff btw, and its not just boys - boys do more scent marking / spraying but girls do it to a lesser extent, and, this is crucial, they do it when stressed. Of all the years we've had cats, many of them, only one sprayed in the house, and he was getting duffed up by the neighbours cat daily. And yes, its a ruinous smell - to the point of throwing out futniture.
Vans in car park? tick (about 8, inc one of mine)
Dogs? Tick - 3 I know about
Cats? (they are not in the lease, so....) around 30
Everyone gets on, no real issues - people need ot be people. ONE, just one cat, was pissing in the corridoors and that was sorted by the owner forcing it to use a window for its exit route. However, I was on a flat part of the roof recently and the piles of cat s
t are comically huge. Someone's cats also st on the mian lawn.But... everyne is happy, the dogs don't bark, so life goes on.
Cats don't just piss on stuff btw, and its not just boys - boys do more scent marking / spraying but girls do it to a lesser extent, and, this is crucial, they do it when stressed. Of all the years we've had cats, many of them, only one sprayed in the house, and he was getting duffed up by the neighbours cat daily. And yes, its a ruinous smell - to the point of throwing out futniture.
Our neighbours cats use everybodies garden to st on. I've planted mint in ours to stop them. coffee grounds also seem to work and aren't noticeable dug in. They've moved onto other gardens now, mostly one neighbour who just left it all there until she realised we were calling her garden cat st corner.
Horrible, smelly, disgusting stuff
t on. I've planted mint in ours to stop them. coffee grounds also seem to work and aren't noticeable dug in. They've moved onto other gardens now, mostly one neighbour who just left it all there until she realised we were calling her garden cat st corner.Horrible, smelly, disgusting stuff
Stumbled on this if it's any use: https://www.catchat.org/index.php/renting-with-cat...
Simpo Two said:
Stumbled on this if it's any use: https://www.catchat.org/index.php/renting-with-cat...
Another case of unintended consequences coming with this. Whilst all the pet owners celebrate that they've got one over on the anti-pet landlords who will now be "forced" to rent to them, the reality is that even more landlords will sell up because of the extra hassle from wrecked, cat piss-riden and flea infested properties to deal with, thus further reducing the pool of rental properties and hiking rental prices even further along with further increasing the competition.Meanwhile, the savvy anti-pet landlords who wish to continue renting their property will simply ask the prospective tenant the 'right' questions to ascertain whether they are currently a pet owner or whether they are a pet-lover and then dismiss them from their shortlist if they are.
It'll be like the law that came in saying that landlords cannot refuse DSS. It made absolutely no difference whatsoever because some tactful questioning by landlord about their job and income instantly revealed they were DSS which brought a prompt end to the viewing with a "I'll let you know".
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