Horrible Landlord

[Mark]

I agree I think being realistic enough to know you can't afford to keep a pet is probably the best reason ever to give it up - I only wondered if your mum was trying to get you involved because I know what my mum is like, she thinks any cat in West London is my responsibility!

Hopefully not the case - there aren't enough hours in the day as it is 

She sounds quite a responsible and intelligent woman so I think she will sort something out.

[swampmaxmum]

What a complete *!%t of a landlord!  When we rented, we told the agents up front to only show us flats that would take cats.  All leases in England say no pets so we had an extra page written and tacked on to the assured shorthold tenancy agreement saying the landlord agrees to allow us to keep our cats here.  Is the place unfurnished? Is she locked into the lease then and would have to give 2 months notice? If possible, I'd find another flat cos if he's like that about cats, he's likely to be awful about everything incl stuff that needs fixing.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

£350 a month extra sound pretty extortionate.  Unless it's an area known for very short lets!  That would build up to a huge sum over time.  A one off deposit would make more sense.   If the landlord has asked for that it sounds as though s/he is willing to accept pets, provided the extra money is paid.  Unless that's just his way of not having pets in the property because no-one can afford it!

[Dawn F]

I agree I think being realistic enough to know you can't afford to keep a pet is probably the best reason ever to give it up - I only wondered if your mum was trying to get you involved because I know what my mum is like, she thinks any cat in West London is my responsibility!

[Mark]

I think its difficult when you get it 3rd hand and don't have all the (or any of) the facts. It could be as you say that she can't afford them any more. There are a lot of questions that could be asked, ie why did the husband keep the main house, why isn't he paying child support etc etc. but you can't ask these things. If she really is that hard up, maybe its better for the kittens sake to go back. At least she hasn't dumped them in the street like some  do

[Dawn F]

sorry just wondered - it was the bit about feeding the kittens or the kids that made me wonder

[Mark]

They live in Essex & I am in Kent.

[Dawn F]

has she asked you to rehome them Mark?  is it possible that maybe she just can't afford to keep them anymore and feels guilty?

[lisa77]

Ive never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life !! Surley thats what the deposit is there for ??? If everything isnt as it should be when she moves out - Then he can deduct from deposit paid !

If its through a letting agency then they go over the flat with a fine toothpick & white cotton gloves & pick up on every little thing !

[clarenmax]

I don't think anyone can offer too much advice until the contents of the tenancy agreement are known, and the clauses etc with regard to pets.  If it said no pets from the the outset, then she was in breach of her agreement, but if it didn't, then she may have a case.

Still very sad though 

[Mark]

No its definately £350 extra. A 2 bed house in this area is probably £1000 a month already as although its not a great area, its commuter land (1/2 hour to London)

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

The landlord found out and said he want an extra £350.00 a month rent as cats will cause damage 

£350 a month???  Are you sure it's not a one off deposit of £350?  £350 a month is outrageous, but I think it's reasonable to ask for a bit extra deposit to cover potential damage.

[Beccles]

Main thing is that you DO NOT break tenancy agreements - if the rules say no animals and you bring animals there then that's asking for trouble.

That said can she not just offer him an extra deposit or something to cover any cleaning costs? Are you sure that this isn't what has already been asked for?

In any case if she has a written contract the landlord can't just randomly put her rent up by £350 a month...

[Mark]

I don't know what the agreement is - I got it from my mum who got it from my sister who got it from her friend 

I will ask - she is quite understandably upset at the moment 

[hOrZa]

Does she not have a tenancy agreement? what does it say on there if it doesn't say no pets then he cant do anything, also the rent should be specified in the agreement

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss 

[dolcetta46]

I agree with Gill, in reality I would think children are more harmful for the property.  If you want to know the ridiculous, a friend of mine in the US had to turn down an otherwise perfect apartment complex to move in, because she was told they only accepted declawed cats.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Thats crzy and would have thought that children would cause more damage.....he just didnt want cats..............why didnt she check before she moved there?

[Mark]

My sister's friend has split with her husband and has 2 small children. She has rented a 2 bedroom house nearby. She also has 2 kittens The landlord found out and said he want an extra £350.00 a month rent as cats will cause damage  She only works part-time as a teaching assistant and is having to have the kittens rehomed as she can't afford it. The day she spoke to my sister, she said she had £10 in her purse and said "do I feed the kittens or the kids?"