My friend has 2 kittens in a rented house. She has been allowed pets from the start but suddenly her landlady is saying she has 2 weeks to get rid of the kittens, claiming they smell of cat (obviously) and that she's allergic to them (no, she doesn't live there). Where does my friend stand with this? UK. Thanks :)
Tavy
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Unless it is in a contract that she can keep cats, then there is nothing she can do. I have a cat from a rehoming centre, the poor girl had to get rid of her as the LL would not let her keep her
(she is having a nice life here)
UK
Liz
I realise that your friend thinks of this property as her home and it is but she doesn't own some of the things in the property. For example she doesn't own the carpets or the fitted kitchen. They come with the house. So it would be sensible to ask permission of the person who does own the carpets and kitchen etc whether they mind there being cats in the house. Cats can do quite a lot of damage to carpets either by scratching at them or by urinating on them. I suspect that the security deposit that your friend paid would not cover the cost of putting new carpet down in the whole house or by replacing the kitchen if it got scratched?
It is only polite to ask if you can have cats when certain items in a house haven't been paid for by your friend.
It is also reasonable for the landlady to refuse to let your friend have cats.
So you are worried about your friends rights but you have to remember that the landlady has rights too.
The landlady has the right to tell your friend that she can't keep the kittens.
YahooDeana
It's not her house so she has to do what she says, however, PLEASE tell her to not have kittens that are less than 9 weeks old - or to give the kittens back to the mother kitten until they've reached that age - and meanwhile she can find them a new home if needed or a new rental that allows 2 pets - which can be difficult.
Anonymous
Allowing pets does not give the tenant the right to add more pets without permission. If 1 cat was authorized & it has kittens then the landlord has every right to hold the tenant to the previously agreed to 1 pet. Same goes if they agreed to a dog then you have no right to bring in cats. Allergies has nothing to do with it she is just making excuses unnecessarily. The bottom line is your friend needs to adhere to type & # of pets agreed to in the lease.
EDIT: "The agreed lease is that she is allowed two of any pet "
Well that is a very poorly wrtiten lease. Landlord is a moron. Lease should always be more specific. Anyway - with a broad poorly writen lease then the landlord has no right to demand the kittens removed. Provided she adheres to the maxim,um of 2 pets she is not violating the lease as written.
R P
Why does your friend think the rules don't apply to her?
Your friend cannot bring any animals into the property unless she has the prior permission from the LL. Just because the LL has allowed animals in the past does not mean the LL has to continue to allow future animals.
If the LL says to rehome the kittens, your friend needs to comply. Otherwise she will find herself evicted for a lease violation.