UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello, I'm living with my girlfriend and we got a dog. We've been looking for a appropriate flat for us for over year. I've found flat that suits us, and during phonecall with letting agent I've heard that dog is not a problem, questions like"what breed it is?" etc. So i assumed if agency represents a landlord landlord gave his consist for having a pet. I paid 500 pounds for agency fees and credit checks for both of us, one month rent upfront and deposit. In total around 1600 pounds. After week when landlord found out that we have a dog and he was very suprised about this fact as long as in our contract there is a point that pets aren't allowed without landlord permission. As i said if letting agency which represent him told me that we can keep the dog it suppose to be same with landlord.. We live in this flat for less than month and on first day dog was barking as he didn't know that it's our new home and we come back every time after we leave.. I'm leaving camera recording on every time we leave the flat to see and prove that dog isn't loud during time we are at work.. Of course letting agent told us that he never told anything about possibility of keeping the dog so he obviously lied to us and landlord. Now we dont have any proof of fact that we are victims of unfair traiding policy of this company. At the end I'm afraid of losing deposit, paying them for looking for new tenant (300 pounds) if we got to leave flat before end of contract. We live in permanent stress now and we really need to find out some solution. Until now landlord said that he will ask us to leave flat if complains won't stop, but dog is quiet for over month and i got proof for it. I'm waiting to see him and talk again but i really need to know my rights.. Until now the thing i know i can do is writing an complaint to agency but im sure the will say nothing like that happened. And we are liars.. Pleaee help us, best regards!

Who did the complaints come from? It's not clear from what you say whether this was just one complaint at the start,or if someone is still complaining? I have had a lot of dealings with situations like this,from both sides of the story.Friends who are RSPCA inspectors and dog wardens tell me that barking during day time hours does not usually constitute noise nuisance.That does not mean that your landlord has to accept the dog,but I would say don't panic,keep your nose clean,pay your rent,if it comes to it, offer a further deposit to cover any damage.If the dog is really disrupting the lives of neighbours while you are out,you should seek advice from a behaviourist.Maybe you are leaving him alone too long? Do you leave the radio or TV on to keep him company? Can anyone get back to give him a walk or run in the garden? We will not usually rehome any younger dogs with people who are out for longer than 4/5 hours max.What sort of dog is it,how old?

There is someone living behind me who puts the dog into the garden every night when he gets back from the pub,and the dog barks for hours.I love dogs,and have not complained,but I can sympathise with those who have.He is renting,and his landlord is not bothered because he gets the rent.

If you have the Agent's documented approval to keep a dog then that is the same as having the Landlord's approval - neither party may like it - but that's the whole concept of being an Agent. It's not a two-step approval process that exists here - the Agent speaks on behalf of the Landlord, being their Agent.

All that said - why would people who both go out to work get a dog? Dogs require social interaction routinely... you can't leave them for 8 hours, or suchlike (they'll be mentally damaged by it) - they're not cats (don't care), or goldfish (don't understand).

Absolutely,we recently had some eejits who dumped the dog because she is "incontinent".They were out for up to 14 hours some days.I asked them how long they could last without needing the loo.