Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Any tips for finding a flat as a dog owner?
I'm feeling a bit discouraged at the moment, so any tips would be appreciated. Our landlords have decided to move back into their house, so my partner and I need to find a new place. The catch is that we have a dog, and it feels like there are almost no landlords willing to accept pets.
With the new tenant laws that came in this June, my understanding is that we cannot offer to pay extra deposit, as it is legally capped at 5 weeks. It seems like this is making it even harder to find a place.
I've created a "CV" for my dog with information about him, including that we give him a preventative flea and tick treatment each month, he's up to date on his vaccinations, and I work from home so he is never left to his own devices, and he's not a noisy dog and doesn't chew on or destroy things. But this doesn't seem to be enough to convince anyone.
It's frustrating because one of the last flats we were rejected for the owner said they picked a couple with a toddler over us because of the dog. I live next door to young children, and they make far more noise than my dog, and I'm guessing a lot more wear and tear on the flat, too.
So is there anything we can do to make ourselves more desirable to landlords? Or reassure them that we are responsible pet owners?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lina on
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Thanks. Open Rent is the best option, but most landlords say they won't accept pets unfortunately.
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Permalink Reply by Betty Careless on
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The Cats Protection League have produced some materials about renting with a cat - don't know if there's anything useful in there: http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/documents/Purrfect_Landlords_private...
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Permalink Reply by Jacqui O'Beirne on
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I second Lets with Pets ( disclaimer I work for Dogs Trust!) we have a [partnership with Chestertons who encourage their landlords to be pet friendly.
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I'm going to respond to my own query, in case any other pet owners come across this thread. Now that we can't offer larger deposits, fewer landlords than ever are willing to play ball (or fetch) with pet owners.
Making a dog or cat CV is a good idea because it sends the message that you're a responsible owner who understands why landlords might be hesitant.
But if you're looking in a desirable area and there are several competing people for one flat, it makes it very hard to get them to pick the reasonable person with a dog over the reasonable person without a dog because the person without a dog is a safer bet. The solution seems obvious although it didn't initially occur to me: offer them more money.
£50/month seems to be enough of a difference to get landlords who have listed on Open Rent with "no pets" to change their mind and consider the idea.
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Permalink Reply by Gaby Fleming on
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I’ve had success (after much stress and many rejections). Would you consider alternative housing that isn’t a traditional flat? We live in a converted industrial warehouse space and some of my friends live in boats on the canal. It does mean a fundamental change in lifestyle, but it can be worth it.
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