Pet In Flat?

[smurfchops]

I have a tenant in my flat who now wants a cat. The managing agent said there are no cats in the block, and I would have to get permission from the Directors of the Residents Company. I have nothing in my original lease (1970) to say no pets allowed, I have looked through the whole lease and stipulations. Do I need to ask the Directors of the Residents Company or could I tell my tenant she can have a cat?

[woofgang]

I would be asking the managing agent for chapter and verse on his pronouncement. Either he can produce it and you have to do it or, as I suspect, he won't be able to and you can tell your tenant she can have a cat.

[sunny-dave]

I presume you have permission (if needed) to sub-let?

If not, I'd be careful about rattling any cages in case it alerts them to you having a tenant.

[smurfchops]

Sunny dave, there is no problem in having a tenant, the managing agent knows about her. Woofgang are you saying I dont need to ask the Residents Association? Is the Lease enough? I thought there might be some law that the Directors have to know about pets ....

[woofgang]

I don't know Smurf, but the management agent has basically teflonned it off. My experience of life when people do this is that they have no idea or don't want you to do whatever it is but have no power to stop you. Accordingly if he/she is laying out this course of action, you want to know what he/she is basing their pronouncement on. So you ask them to quote chapter and verse of what they are basing their response on.

[themas]

I agree with woofgang. And when you ask, make it clear you have read through your lease and it does not mention at all any prohibition on pets or need to get approval for them.

I'm pretty sure there is no general law about this, but you can check with lease-advice.org if you want.

However, have you & the tenant considered the practical issues? Is the flat on the ground floor? If so, is there somewhere a cat flap could be put in, & do you need permission to do that? If the flat is not on the ground floor how will the cat get in & out? Is there any possibility the cat could be left outside the flat (or able to get out) when the tenant is not there, & then upset other residents? If so, it's likely you would be the one they vented their annoyance on.

[smurfchops]

Themas, it would be an indoor cat, with a litter tray, the tenant is a lovely girl and I know she would look after the cat well. No worries there.

[ladybirder]

If the lease doesn't veto having a cat then I don't see a problem and as the cat wouldn't be a bother to anyone as it is to be kept inside the property then it's nobody else's business. Of course that doesn't mean someone might not try to make it their business. Also agree you should speak to the MA who in my experience just want a quiet life.