Renting with animals - why is it almost impossible?

Gray2233 said:
Since when is four dogs and two cats a pet?

I suspect if it was just one or two the OP would have had more success, I wouldn't want to rent to someone with that many animals either.
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You know it makes no difference right?

Even one pet is too much for 90% of landlords in my experience.
 
Penfold101 said:
That’s the problem - the market is screwed to such an extent that ownership is out of reach for many. I don’t want it to be free, just attainable for all.
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I work in a forensic psychiatric hospital, and as a senior ota earn 25000. Every day a risk of being assulted you guys have it so good, it is unreal.
 
Priapus said:
You know it makes no difference right?

Even one pet is too much for 90% of landlords in my experience.
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I honestly think it does, I have several friends that rent from private landlords that have pets. While more often than not advertisements do state no pets there are still a number that allow them when reasonable, and I'm aware of a couple of instances where approaching a landlord with that rule and asking/explaining that they only have one cat, a small dog, a hamster or something many are fine with it. Mind you I'm also a lot further north in the UK, I'm unsure as to whether that might play a part in things are not.

Good luck with the search, but that many animals is going to be an immediate red flag for many.
 
Priapus said:
We tried that with the last application. Rental was for £1500. We offered £1700. Agency said we were “very close” but someone else got it. I suspect someone with no pets offered more maybe. Or as it appears — that might not have been enough.

We wouldn’t offer more than £2k. As we are paying £2.5k a month at the moment and the point of moving is to reduce that a little to save more towards our own place.

But we will continue to try offer more on rental as we can’t offer more on the deposit due to laws.



I wouldn’t go that far — some have made valid points. We just need to suck it up and continue saving.
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Sorry you're having a hard time.

If you want to move to a 3 Bed Semi in the best school area in Nottingham let me know. I'd allow pets for above market value, but there is the risk I need to replace all carpets and who knows what else. I'd probably have to research what other liabilities I may have before agreeing to that I imagine. Way too much red tape these days

I imagine you want to stay in the same place and I'd just say if 5% allow pets, don't be too picky about the house you pick. You're obviously at a disadvantage
 
Priapus said:
You know it makes no difference right?

Even one pet is too much for 90% of landlords in my experience.
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As someone that rents with two cats, the number of pets does make a difference.

I’ve found what has worked for me (and I’ve moved around a lot - I’ve lived in Somerset, Midlands, and Lancashire in the last 4 years for work) is offering more money.

Most landlords care about one thing, money. They also want to know they’ll get paid on time. So I’ve offered above asking, and rent in advance. Rent in advance doesn’t give them a chunk upfront, the letting agent keeps it and pays the landlord monthly but it gives them peace of mind they’ll get paid every month.

Ultimately they want to minimise risk, and pets can add to risk if damage. It’s not just pets, I wouldn’t want to try renting with young children either as you’re far down the list of applications with children too!

The way to offset that risk is offer money to cover it!
 
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ANDREW GREEN said:
Sorry you're having a hard time.

If you want to move to a 3 Bed Semi in the best school area in Nottingham let me know. I'd allow pets for above market value, but there is the risk I need to replace all carpets and who knows what else. I'd probably have to research what other liabilities I may have before agreeing to that I imagine. Way too much red tape these days

I imagine you want to stay in the same place and I'd just say if 5% allow pets, don't be too picky about the house you pick. You're obviously at a disadvantage
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Appreciate the offer. We are wanting to stay near family down south. We have also decided to just stay in the current rental and save for longer until we buy our own place.
 
ChocAndGray said:
As someone that rents with two cats, the number of pets does make a difference.

I’ve found what has worked for me (and I’ve moved around a lot - I’ve lived in Somerset, Midlands, and Lancashire in the last 4 years for work) is offering more money.

Most landlords care about one thing, money. So I’ve offered above asking, and rent in advance.
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The trouble is, we don’t even get that far. 95% of properties we look at just say “no pets”. A blanket ban.
 
Priapus said:
The trouble is, we don’t even get that far. 95% of properties we look at just say “no pets”. A blanket ban.
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You’re right and the largest renting site rightmove doesn’t even have a pet filter.

Zoopla does, I’ve also found openrent better as it had a filter, and you are dealing directly with the landlord, can meet them so they can get a vibe from meeting in person as opposed to an application forwarded from the letting agent.

I normally call the letting agents, explain my circumstances, propose my offer of whether more money might tempt them.

Sometimes it’s no, but other times they call the landlord and it’s been successful.

Sometimes landlords put no pets to stop the “I have 5 dogs, 3 cats and 2 rabbits” but they’ll actually entertain a single pet.

Ultimately I dread having to find somewhere new to live each time as it’s so stressful.

I don’t think I’ll ever have pets once mine pass, it makes a lot of things more difficult, somewhere to live, holidays, the stress when they pass away, get ill etc
 
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Priapus said:
Appreciate the offer. We are wanting to stay near family down south. We have also decided to just stay in the current rental and save for longer until we buy our own place.
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So if you're currently in a rental aren't you sound or does it cost too much? You could call 200 people renting and ask them do you take pets, if the answer is no 'what I pay x amount more'. I think a landlord would be alright with the right agreement in place. If you call enough you have to find a place

Sacrifices you make for your dogs and pets
 
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If you were really set on renting elsewhere and keep getting pushed back because of the gang of pets you have, why not take a look into taxidermy?
 
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Doesn't this move from a philosophical question ("why do landlords not like renters to have pets") to a practical problem ("my family life is suffering, I should do something here") after your hundredth rejection?

I mean, what are we arguing about? Is it fair? Probably not. Is it something you can change in the short term? Probably not. Should I do something to improve my actual life with the options I have? Hell yeah.
 
cheesyboy said:
The fun thing here is that landlording makes that much harder by adding demand to the housing market (putting up prices), and the higher property prices then push up rental prices (a substitute good), which makes it harder for renters to transfer to being home owners.

And the upward pressure landlords put on prices attracts more landlords. And landlords are more often cash buyers (boomers cashing in their pension tax free lump sum are regular culprits), which makes it even harder for owner-occupiers to get on the housing ladder.

Fwiw, I own a home, I've not got ulterior motive here, I just hate on landlords for the love of the game.
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Oh I agree - I think the only people who should be allowed to make money from housing should be house builders. All private landlords should be got rid of an only councils should have rental properties (social housing stock).
 
VRDoctor said:
Oh I agree - I think the only people who should be allowed to make money from housing should be house builders. All private landlords should be got rid of an only councils should have rental properties (social housing stock).
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So we'll set things up so everyone who doesn't qualify for or want social housing should be able to and forced to just buy a house when they leave home at 18 onwards?
 
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ANDREW GREEN said:
So if you're currently in a rental aren't you sound or does it cost too much? You could call 200 people renting and ask them do you take pets, if the answer is no 'what I pay x amount more'. I think a landlord would be alright with the right agreement in place. If you call enough you have to find a place

Sacrifices you make for your dogs and pets
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We currently pay circa £2.5k for rent. We renter To move to a cheaper place to save more for a deposit.
 
koolpc said:
Why dont you find a good boarding kennel and you ALL move in there with your pets? Lol
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koolpc said:
Join a circus. You can have loads of pets and accomodation!
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koolpc said:
Rent a barn!!! You can keep the animals in there too!
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koolpc said:
My mate had loads of animals. He was refused accomodation all of the time. In the end he built his own place. It was called the Ark!
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koolpc said:
If you were really set on renting elsewhere and keep getting pushed back because of the gang of pets you have, why not take a look into taxidermy?
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Attempts at humour: 5

Laughing responses: 6


You make Amy Schumer look funny.
 
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