Crazy Rental Situation

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Kylie80

Kylie80

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We now have 4 weeks till we have to be out of our house because the landlord doesn't want the guinea pigs on the premises (even though our contract states we can have a pet), apparently he read somewhere they smell. We've been looking for a month and apparently so is everyone else lol. However the last two houses we have applied for the landlords have knocked us back because of the guinea pigs, the first said she's just laid down new carpet and doesn't wanna get guinea pig smell through it and the second doesnt want them chewing the carpet which is also new. They are in a cage which was stated in application and I don't let them get to the point where their cage stinks anywhere near that extent. Has anyone else had problems renting with the piggies. I don't even want to think about having to have them rehomed as i'm far to attached to them but I'm starting to suspect we may end up homeless because noone like guinea pigs.
 
I have had problems finding places in the past (two dogs and lots of rabbits). Luckily it has been ok and I have always found an animal accepting landlady or landlord in time.

You could always offer an extra deposit in case of any carpet damage ...
 
The property market can be tough, particularly when it feels like everyone else is looking at the same time as you.

I think the problem with guinea pigs is that they are largely misunderstood as pets, and just lumped into the undesirable group of rodents.
What I would suggest is in addition to filling out the standard application, is attaching a short cover letter with a photo of your cage set up.
Explain that the guinea pigs are small, quiet and clean animals, and do not free range, so can not cause any form of damage to a house. Give a little background information - how long you have had them, etc and if they are rescued mention that too.
Keep it short and to the point.
Sometimes adding a small personal touch to an application can make a big difference, and make a landlord think before immediately discarding your application.

Good luck.
 
Thats great advice @Swissgreys .... i think guinea pigs should be easier for landlords to accept than a cat or dog who might accidentally pee/poo on the floor/carpet .. but as stated above, largely misunderstood..
 
I agree with @Swissgreys

It is frustrating when landlords will not except animals so it is a good idea to add a little background information.

When I rented, my piggies lived outdoors in a shed although I did bring them indoors for playtime.

However, we also had two cats, hamsters and gerbils as well.

We got around it by explaining to the landlord that we kept them clean and in cages etc.

Our landlord was perfectly fine with it once he had seen the set up. He did however ask for an extra deposit of £200 but this was due to the cats which we were happy to pay.

Good luck in your search
 
We have recently moved and were accepted on 8 properties that we applied for, only knocked back on 2. On all the applications I stated that we have 4 guinea pigs that live mostly in an outdoor hutch and only brought inside when the weather requires it. It's not my fault that there's been a heatwave since we moved and they've had to be inside :P But I've never found a problem with piggies as pets before, one agent even told me "guinea pigs aren't considered pets!"
 
flowerfairy said:
I have had problems finding places in the past (two dogs and lots of rabbits). Luckily it has been ok and I have always found an animal accepting landlady or landlord in time
I'm glad you have good landlord/ lady. How many buns do u have, I have 5 now!
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Kylie80 said:
We now have 4 weeks till we have to be out of our house because the landlord doesn't want the guinea pigs on the premises (even though our contract states we can have a pet), apparently he read somewhere they smell. We've been looking for a month and apparently so is everyone else lol. However the last two houses we have applied for the landlords have knocked us back because of the guinea pigs, the first said she's just laid down new carpet and doesn't wanna get guinea pig smell through it and the second doesnt want them chewing the carpet which is also new. They are in a cage which was stated in application and I don't let them get to the point where their cage stinks anywhere near that extent. Has anyone else had problems renting with the piggies. I don't even want to think about having to have them rehomed as i'm far to attached to them but I'm starting to suspect we may end up homeless because noone like guinea pigs.
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The extra deposit is a great idea, that way the landlord can take a risk that's covered and I'm sure you won't damage the carpet so in theory it will come back to you. Good luck.
 
It might be worth seeking some advice. I don't know how long you have been in the current property but the rules changed last April and our local courts are clamping down on evictions where the landlord hasn't done the right paperwork or registered the deposit correctly. One of the forms that has changed is the section 21 notice to ask you to leave the property.

You can register with your local council for housing but they wouldn't consider you until you are classed as homeless so it would come down to a last resort and not necessarily something you want to rely on. They would expect you not to leave the property in 4 weeks (unless you had somewhere to move to of course) forcing the landlord to go through the court process to get you formally evicted. This could easily take another couple of months before bailiffs come to change the locks.

Persevere with the rentals as it does come down to the landlord. I stipulate no pets for my property but that's because I don't want cats/dogs when the house is fairly recently carpeted etc. If someone said to me they had caged animals I would exercise my discretion on it.
 
I am totally with @Swissgreys advice on this one, it's GREAT advice.

I have been fortunate that I have never had a landlord turn down pets. Even when there were contracts that stated pets were permitted I would always ask first just out of courtesy.

It's so silly they are skeptical of guinea pigs, they are CAGED animal and no worse than someone with a canary. The way you describe it sounds like the landlords have some sort idea that guinea pigs are HUGE free ranging animals. They don't have them mixed up with actual miniature house pigs do they?

I'd also invite your current landlord over to "review" the situation (about an hour after cleaning them out so there is sufficient poos not to make him think you JUST cleaned them) and let him see for himself about the "smell".

p.s The rats say if they can smuggle themselves on a plane they will come over and play the "She has guinea pigs, surely its us RATS you have problems with not them? At least she only has the pigs right? RIGHT?" card.
 
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I don't know about a letter as usually things are done over the phone with the landlord. However, you could offer information on them being in a cage constantly and offer an additional deposit to cover the costs should the guinea pigs cause any damage. We all know that they wouldn't but after uni I lived with someone who had a rabbit who was immediately given the run of the house, he ate a square of lino, chewed the skirting boards and pooped and wee'd all over the carpets. I think that's what a landlord would be concerned with. Perhaps you could also offer to get the carpet in the room professionally cleaned if and when you decide to leave the property? I think the majority of landlords, if they know you are serious about respecting their property, shouldn't have a problem with it.
 
I thought about writing a cover letter but from what I understand the landlord doesnt see the application's at least that's what the last real estate has told us, they spoke to the land lord by phone. Over here we pay a bond which we get back when we leave providing the house is in satisfactory condition, is that what you mean by the additional deposit? We also have to have the carpets cleaned and de flea'd when we leave a residence. My partner has broken his foot today which is going to make packing and moving interesting. I am remaining positive.
 
I think landlords should do more to help pet owners because this is half the reason so many animals end up in rescues. And why so many people end up looking for council houses. I think there should be a law against this. It's understandable when it's an animal that is not trained or looked after properly, but for decent pet owners and well behaved pets it's just cruel. I really feel for you. I'm lucky enough to own my own home but I still feel your frustration. I think the government should crack down on these landlords and as suggested they ask for a bit more of a deposit to cover any damages and if there is no damages when your tenancy is up you should get it all back. It's not fair making people or pets homeless. They should review every case differently and not brand every animal the same. My dog has never ever been distructive and I would be offended if he was tarnished with the same brush as a dog owned by a total idiot. But my step dad is a landlord and doesn't accept cats because he has had no end of flea infestations and has had to have houses fumigated. But like I said I think they should review each applicant and maybe get someone to check out the applicants current living state.

Are you in the uk? Could you put up an advert on gumtree and other selling sites asking if anyone has a house to rent that would accept pets? I've seen afew adverts like this before
 
Kylie80 said:
I thought about writing a cover letter but from what I understand the landlord doesnt see the application's at least that's what the last real estate has told us, they spoke to the land lord by phone. Over here we pay a bond which we get back when we leave providing the house is in satisfactory condition, is that what you mean by the additional deposit? We also have to have the carpets cleaned and de flea'd when we leave a residence. My partner has broken his foot today which is going to make packing and moving interesting. I am remaining positive.
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Yes it sounds quite similar to here. The bond sounds like what we call a deposit. We usually have to put one months rent + £100-200 down for a property in case of damages, cleaning needed etc when the tenants leave the property. Offering an additional £100-200 would show that you are serious about managing your pet and if they do chew carpet or destruct skirting boards etc then the landlord can use the bond to repair/replace when you leave
 
That's what we've done, we paid an additional £200 to pay any crazy descructive parties the pigs have whilst we're out of the house. The landlord didn't ask for it, but I offered just to show willing.

I was quite surprised at how many just outright said 'no' without any comeback or reasoning.
 
Stayc1989 said:
I think landlords should do more to help pet owners because this is half the reason so many animals end up in rescues. And why so many people end up looking for council houses. I think there should be a law against this. It's understandable when it's an animal that is not trained or looked after properly, but for decent pet owners and well behaved pets it's just cruel. I really feel for you. I'm lucky enough to own my own home but I still feel your frustration. I think the government should crack down on these landlords and as suggested they ask for a bit more of a deposit to cover any damages and if there is no damages when your tenancy is up you should get it all back. It's not fair making people or pets homeless. They should review every case differently and not brand every animal the same. My dog has never ever been distructive and I would be offended if he was tarnished with the same brush as a dog owned by a total idiot. But my step dad is a landlord and doesn't accept cats because he has had no end of flea infestations and has had to have houses fumigated. But like I said I think they should review each applicant and maybe get someone to check out the applicants current living state.

Are you in the uk? Could you put up an advert on gumtree and other selling sites asking if anyone has a house to rent that would accept pets? I've seen afew adverts like this before
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We are in Australia.
 
I just found it frustrating and ridiculous that they assume any piggie smells would be absorbed into the carpet. We inspected one house the other day that was a proper dump and the current tenants (they are moving) didn't have any animals but they smoke and the whole house stank of cigarette smoke and I don't know what they did to the carpets but they were black and they were meant to be cream and there was cotton wool buds with ear wax on the floor and dirty underpants and clothes all over the bathroom floor and the bottom of the toilet mat in the ensuite had stuck to the floor some how (I don't want to think about how). Some humans can be much filthier than a animal. Thankfully the bedrooms were too small in that one so we couldn't apply. I don't understand why they show houses here while the tenant's are still residing in them as obviously they are mess from packing and you feel like you are invading their personal space to even look properly.
 
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