Potentially Heartbreaking...

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TheAurora

TheAurora

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So, to cut a long story short, when I moved into my house three and a half years ago to reassurance from my landlord that 'this will be your home for as long as you want it' asking if I could rescue some guinea pigs and give them a 'home for life' didn't seem to come with any risks.

You can imagine my surprise when I accidentally found out on Sunday my landlord is half way through a process of selling my house.

Apparently my new landlord is 'aware of the guinea pigs'.

However, he wants £220 a month more rent so I may not be able to stay.

Has anyone else had experience of finding a new rented property with little piggies?

I won't give them up so we could potentially be homeless :-(

P.s... I haven't slept for two nights, every time I look at my boyz I want to be sick with heartbreak and I can't stop crying - this is not good.
 
Oh I am so so sorry.
I dont know if its at all useful but have you looked at this website:

http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/petowners/petowners

I have also heard that often "no pets" clauses are generic, but that if approached sensibly and given lots of information/asssurances that landlords can make exceptions for certain animals. Eg. if I was landlord I would be a lot happier renting a house to someone with a guinea pig or hamster, than I would renting it out to a house rabbit or cat or dog owner.

Are they indoor or outdoors?

I'm so sorry and I hope someone else can be more helpful. Perhaps someone could foster them for you if you really have to leave until you can find alternative pet friendly accomodation. Where in the UK are you?

x
 
There are landlords out there who will accept pets if you let them know in advance that you have them, particularly if they are caged animals (you can neglect to mention the floor time!) My friend once moved with gerbils which was fine but then she took on rats but got told to get rid of them because they weren't agreed upon to begin with. It may take a little extra shopping about but you should be able to find somewhere you can take your piggies with you. Another consideration, if you feel it an option is to look at private landlords as they are often more accomodating.

I know there's a very good chance I'll need to rent in a couple of years when I graduate and I have no intention of giving up my boys at all!

Good luck!
 
Sorry can't help you with regard to finding a new property, but you must have some existing tenants rights. I would contact Citizen Advice before committing to anything,,,,, although it sounds like ( not knowing circumstances ) your new landlord wants you out as £220 a month seems excessive. You have rights after all you have lived there for over 3 years.. ( sitting tenants rights we think )

Lisa & Ali..
 
I have found, that although most of houses say no pets, a lot of them will allow small pets and rodents, it is worth asking when you look at new places, and emphasising the fact that having guinea pigs wouldn't mess the house up at all. Are they very much inside guinea pigs? Good luck!
 
In all honesty guinea pigs are cleaner then most animals - but to pay £220 more rent is excessive. Can't you speak to your new Landlord and compromise somehow?

I know however that when my Dad and Stepmum were renting temporarily (and she has a cat) they discussed through the renting agency and they spoke to the Landlord who gave them the okay to let the cat in.
 
I should probably add that the new landlord wants a £220 rent increase because I currently only pay £330 for a three bedroom house on my own and he wants more of a going rate (£550). He says if I don't stay he could get £600 a month for it - it's a big house and new. So I think he's trying to compromise a bit. It's still a lot for me on my own that's all x
 
Goth Mummy said:
Oh I am so so sorry.
I dont know if its at all useful but have you looked at this website:

http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/petowners/petowners

I have also heard that often "no pets" clauses are generic, but that if approached sensibly and given lots of information/asssurances that landlords can make exceptions for certain animals. Eg. if I was landlord I would be a lot happier renting a house to someone with a guinea pig or hamster, than I would renting it out to a house rabbit or cat or dog owner.

Are they indoor or outdoors?

I'm so sorry and I hope someone else can be more helpful. Perhaps someone could foster them for you if you really have to leave until you can find alternative pet friendly accomodation. Where in the UK are you?

x
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This website is very helpful. There's a few pet friendly agents near me and they are listing more properties than I expected that will 'consider' pets. Thanks x
 
BeautifulBoyz said:
I should probably add that the new landlord wants a £220 rent increase because I currently only pay £330 for a three bedroom house on my own and he wants more of a going rate (£550). He says if I don't stay he could get £600 a month for it - it's a big house and new. So I think he's trying to compromise a bit. It's still a lot for me on my own that's all x
Click to expand...

My dad used to live in a three bedroom bottom floor flat with two years and he paid about £480 a month for it.. although I suppose the cost of rent does factor where the house is located...
 
I have to say all the responses here have really perked me up... thanks for being so helpful all of you x
 
My Friend had 2 dogs and 7 guinea pig's in her rented flat, the landlord had no problem with it. They did do regular inspection but where always happy. Don't be disheartened, many places will let Guinea pigs stay just be upfront from the start. :) x
 
karonus said:
Contact the council. You may find they will rehome you as you are being made homeless.
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If you can give this a try it may help. My council have helped me out after being made homeless last year x
 
I have a dog, 7 pigs and a tortoise currently, and I didn't have any trouble renting. I've rented various places for the last 5 years with various animals in tow!
 
Amanda1801 said:
I have a dog, 7 pigs and a tortoise currently, and I didn't have any trouble renting. I've rented various places for the last 5 years with various animals in tow!
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If you can do it, I can do it - great stuff. Feel more motivated now :-)
 
Could you get a housemate or someone to go in with you to help pay the rent if you have the house all to yourself? My boss got divorced a couple of years ago but didnt want to move from her zone 2 london flat - she tried paying all by herself for a few months but found a good flatmate really quickly using an online service once she'd exhausted all options of friends/friends of friends etc.

Good luck whatever happens, can't be very easy for you at the moment!
 
Viewing Saturday. Cute little place. No probs with piggies. Fingers crossed x
 
I can't comment on the rent increase as I guess the new landlord is well within his rights to increase the rent.

If you start looking for a new house, most contracts will state 'no pets' ours did when we rented. But if you ask and are honest about it, many landlords actually don't mind you having pets especially caged ones.

At one point in my 'no pets allowed' rented house we had four guinea pigs (housed outside) two gerbils, two hamsters, two rats and a cat. We did ask the landlord and he was fine about it although he did ask us to pay a separate deposit of £100 for the cat which we were more than happy to do.

We did ask him to add to our contract that we were allowed the animals which he did so just so he couldn't change his mind further down the line.

We have recently brought our own house but when the landlord was advertising, the advert stated that pets may be welcome on request.

Just ask around and I am sure you will find somewhere that will accept your guinea pigs.
 
My husband runs a letting agency and in general (as echo'd here) if people are upfront and honest about the pets then most people don't mind. They nearly all say no pets initially, there's a sensible conversation and its not an issue in the main (especially with small animals) Its when someone has pets (usually cats!) they dont say anything and the place gets trashed, is when its an issue and gives a bad name for everyone else with pets.

I also used to rent my old house and said no pets, lovely couple came along with two dogs, we had a nice chat, no issues and they were the best tenants I ever had! All that happens is you pay for a slightly deeper clean before you eventually leave, to get rid of traces of pet hair etc.

Good luck with everything, hopefully its no where near as bad as you thought!
 
One "no pets" place we rented were fine with our lot....

4 hamsters
3 terrapins
2 mice
1 chameleon
3 tortoises
2 rabbits
3 guinea pigs
3 axolotyls
2 snakes
several fish

And a partridge in a pear tree.... :D
 
Amanda1801 said:
One "no pets" place we rented were fine with our lot....

4 hamsters
3 terrapins
2 mice
1 chameleon
3 tortoises
2 rabbits
3 guinea pigs
3 axolotyls
2 snakes
several fish

And a partridge in a pear tree.... :D
Click to expand...


LEGEND! x
 
Guinea Slave said:
My husband runs a letting agency and in general (as echo'd here) if people are upfront and honest about the pets then most people don't mind. They nearly all say no pets initially, there's a sensible conversation and its not an issue in the main (especially with small animals) Its when someone has pets (usually cats!) they dont say anything and the place gets trashed, is when its an issue and gives a bad name for everyone else with pets.

I also used to rent my old house and said no pets, lovely couple came along with two dogs, we had a nice chat, no issues and they were the best tenants I ever had! All that happens is you pay for a slightly deeper clean before you eventually leave, to get rid of traces of pet hair etc.

Good luck with everything, hopefully its no where near as bad as you thought!
Click to expand...


A lot of advice here which has helped me feel better x
 
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