Given Notice To Move Out Because Of A Dog

[Peaches15]

I moved into a share house less than a month. They gave me a 3 months tenancy rental contract to start with. One day I was feeling unwell which I throw up at my work place in that morning , I remember I forgot to bring my phone with me, I rush home during my lunch break. Arrived home and open the gate and drive the car into the parking area , I didn’t close the gate cos I thought it would only take 30 seconds to ran up to my room to get my phone. Then I open the front door, the dog ran straight out and through the gate to the pavement. The landlord quickly got him back and the dog is fine and I said sorry to the landlord. A text message sent to me later said ‘after the episode with the dog we won’t be renewing your tenancy, when you took the tenancy I told you the gate and door can’t be open together and I am sure you will do it again and I am not prepared to take that risk, sorry, Hudson (the dog) could have got killed. You have 2 months to find somewhere more suitable for you. thanks’
Swear to God, I couldn’t recall she said about the gate and door cannot open together at the time I took the tenancy. Even she did mention it was only slightly and never never mentioned about because of the dog would run away.
We have a row, she said I have no common sense, of course the gate and door opened the dog will run away.
Shared these with my boss at work and she said if the dog is so much important. They shouldn’t take loger.
Dog’s owners, lodgers or landlords what are you guys think of this? Was it fair? Upset...!!

[Dogsbody2]

If you have a three month tenancy, either side can decide to terminate after three months, which is what has happened. A bit unnecessary to make such a big deal of the dog issue, but they didn't have to give any reason.

[Retrochic]

Your boss is an idiot for siding with you and saying they should not have a lodger if they think so much about their dog. Your landlord wants a lodger who thinks about their actions and does not leave an open gate onto a busy road where the dog of the house may run out onto. The dog is part of their family and they need to be able to trust someone to use common sense. I bet you this is not your first offence is it?

[Peaches15]

this is first offence, Retrochi
I live there less than a month, I still getting use to everything in the house. I never have pet in my life. Lodger is a guest, a paying guest. Of course we will take care of the thing as much as we could of the house. But we are only human, do have off day sometimes that forget things or not close the gate properly. Yes, I admitted my mistake, but I didn’t have enough warning.
What if it is not a dog, a two year old. Ran through the door and the gate and got killed in the busy traffic. What would the judge said? Would the judge said I killed the two years old? Who neglect the child?

[jourdain2]

Given what you say, Peaches15, I think that the landlord (though within her rights) is being difficult. We are extremely careful about our dog, but even so, we had visitors the other week and one of them left the door open slightly too long and the dog was on the pavement. Fortunately I was not too far behind and stopped him before he ventured onto the road. All a bit odd, the dog is your responsibility if it gets killed, not your landlord's.

If possible, I suggest you fit a baby-gate in your hall to ensure the dog cannot get out and show and explain this precaution to your landlord.

[ladybirder]

The relationship between you and your landlady is now ruined anyway. Yes it was and is fair. It's up to her who she has in her house and she is acting within the law. You should be relieved no harm came to the dog. I'm afraid if it was me I wouldn't have confidence in you not doing it again. Please don't go anywhere where there are little children.

[Retrochic]

"What if it is not a dog, a two year old. Ran through the door and the gate and got killed in the busy traffic. What would the judge said? Would the judge said I killed the two years old? Who neglect the child? "

The judge would probably say it was a tragic accident due to some idiot leaving the gate open onto the main road........

[tonyav]

Your landlord is acting within the law, however I agree with your boss.

[Retrochic]

The OP knows the family she is living with has a dog -she knows the gate should be closed at all times - she 'thought' it would be ok for "30 seconds" to leave it open and go into the house and now blames the landlord for not controlling the dog -I would give her notice ,not for what she did but the attitude, and tend to think this is why she got Notice -attitude not actions.

[Peaches15]

That is very terrible to say don’t go anywhere with little children. 20 years of my life was living with children, no little children came to harm because of me. Living with three children between 1-4 years old at one time.

Yes, true its attitude. Most people said a warning and explain the seriousness would be enough. I have said sorry on the spot. That is my attitude, I would said sorry if I made a mistake. But to put all the responsibility to a lodger to look out for your own animal, that is the right attitude !!

[Peaches15]

again I didn't know the gate should be closed at all time.

[bednobs]

your landlord does not want you as a lodger nymore. Whether it's all to do with htis incident is debateble, but the fct remains they don't want you any more. Find somewhere lese nd get over it.

[EDDIE51]

It is unfair but the landlord is within their rights. If they are being that difficult it would not be long before you upset them in another way. You are well off out of it.

[vulcan42]

Shouldn't the landlord have notices up regarding these doors and gates? leaving them both open for a short period of time is something a tradesman/postman would do. Also, shouldn't a tenancy agreement be in writing?

[Peaches15]

Yeah, I would be well off out of it. I wish I could move out immediately. but it takes time ...

[Peaches15]

Good questions, Vulccan42
If the dog issues is that important, should be written in the tenancy agreement to avoid arguments.
No notices up regarding these doors and gates? they have a gate and a side door man. Both no notices up.

[woofgang]

baseline is her house her rules. you broke one.

[Peaches15]

Rules should be informed properly, otherwise it would not be fair

[sherrardk]

Unfortunately (for you), their house their rules. Hope you find somewhere else that suits you.

[woofgang]

you were told don't open the gate and the door together and you did.....Your post sounds to me like self excuse after self excuse
"I didn’t close the gate cos I thought it would only take 30 seconds to ran up to my room to get my phone"
So you knew you should have closed the gate.
"Swear to God, I couldn’t recall she said about the gate and door cannot open together at the time I took the tenancy. Even she did mention it was only slightly"
So you swear it wasn't mentioned but then say maybe it was...
Personally I think you are lucky to get the two months grace.