Dogs and renting

sayuriH

Hi,we are currently renting a property in Ireland from a property management company, the contract states no animals are to be allowed in premises, we asked the manager of the company would it be ok to have a large breed dog (husky) he said no but he allows small dogs, a neighbor has a small dog (Maltese) does this not mean that because the dog is allowed for one person it should be allowed for all seen as contracts states no animals but precedent shows dog allowed? Can landlord discriminate on size of dog?

Clareman

Moving this to the Accommodation & Property forum as I think it would better suited for this type of query, please note the new charter than is enforced.

dori_dormer

No. Technically the rules can be enforced at any time and anyone with a dog can be told to get rid of it. All it needs is someone to complain about barking or poop and it's all over for everyone.

gmg678

are you renting a house or apartment? is the dog indoor or outdoor dog? when we were renting we were allowed a dog but it had to be a small dog. I think landlords feel that big dog will destroy the place.

sayuriH

dori_dormer wrote: »

No. Technically the rules can be enforced at any time and anyone with a dog can be told to get rid of it. All it needs is someone to complain about barking or poop and it's all over for everyone.

what if management company has agreed to small dogs been allowed?

sayuriH

gmg678 wrote: »

are you renting a house or apartment? is the dog indoor or outdoor dog? when we were renting we were allowed a dog but it had to be a small dog. I think landlords feel that big dog will destroy the place.

Renting apartment, the dog is currently both indoor n outdoor where he is staying now he is ok with either if he's indoor we make sure he gets his daily walk etc. He is house trained etc. The excuse I was given as to why large dog not allowed was safety of the other residents that if they allow one large dog everyone would be able to have one and there could be dangerous dogs around etc ?

sayuriH

sayuriH wrote: »

what if management company has agreed to small dogs been allowed?

Its the LL property he can enforce what ever rule he wants in relation to pets. As a general rule LLs don't allow any pets as they have plenty of tenants to chose from and can pick ones without pets quite easily.

sayuriH

Chelsea Plain Poplin wrote: »

Its the LL property he can enforce what ever rule he wants in relation to pets. As a general rule LLs don't allow any pets as they have plenty of tenants to chose from and can pick ones without pets quite easily.

Yes I understand this completely but what I don't get is why is one rule for one tenant wit small dog and another for other tenant.

Sleepy

Because the Landlord wants it that way.

Life isn't "fair", stop expecting it to be.

athtrasna

sayuriH wrote: »

Yes I understand this completely but what I don't get is why is one rule for one tenant wit small dog and another for other tenant.

Most apartments ban pets entirely or restrict them to small animals. Tbh I'm shocked that you would consider an apartment to be a suitable home for such a large dog whose natural habitat is outdoors.

Tiddlypeeps

sayuriH wrote: »

Yes I understand this completely but what I don't get is why is one rule for one tenant wit small dog and another for other tenant.

The LL isn't applying different rules for different tenants, the LL has said it is also fine for you to have a small dog. The rule the LL is choosing to enforce is no big dogs, and they are perfectly entitled to do that.

Even if it was different rules for different tenants the LL would still legally be allowed to do that, but that's not the case here anyway as they are clearly applying the same rule.

intheclouds

sayuriH wrote: »

Yes I understand this completely but what I don't get is why is one rule for one tenant wit small dog and another for other tenant.

Because small dogs are small and large dogs are large?

Are you seriously saying you cant see the difference?

I'd go so far as to say an apartment is no place for any pet regardless of them being allowed of not but definitely as they should really be kept outside imo but even more so a big active dog.

If I were renting out a house/apartment I wouldn't allow any pet be kept under any circumstances and I'd be inspecting to make sure there was no sneaking them in. It will add to wear and tear, it creates a smell, potential for damage etc.

zef

But where do you draw the line at 'big' dogs?
In my experience, small dogs are are more annoying with their constant high pitched yipping. As i sit here typing, I can hear 3 separate dogs barking. It's really annoying and distracting. I have a Jack Russell, I keep her in. I am embarrassed if she barks when the doorbell rings! - I would never dream of allowing her to bark for hours to the detriment of my neighbours sanity.
Huskies are not on the restricted breed list, at least you have that in your favour OP.
If you are renting the apartment currently , where is the dog now?
Personally I think animals/ pets are an important facet of life , and historically and still in certain foreign societies they live in close proximity to their 'owners'. It is a shame that so many feel it is right to deprive a person the chance to share their life with an animal. The amount of re-homing adverts due to Landlords is heartbreaking to an animal lover.
If you want to own a dog now in Dublin in peace you are looking at renting a house and garden, and finding a Landlord who will accept your dog. So looking at at least 2.5k moving in money, not to mention a dog deposit if required.
OP- would your landlord be open to the idea of a dog deposit- an extra 500-1k to put his mind at ease. It would be well worth it to avoid you having to move or re-home the dog.

dori_dormer

The property management company and the landlord are often two completely different people. Also the manager shouldn't be telling anyone they can break the rules regarding animals. The house rules for an apartment block usually state no animals. The manager could change any day and the new one could enforce the rules. Or a tenant could complain. Or the landlord could find out you broke the rules and evict you.

Rew

To be fair OP doesn't say apartment just property. Husky isn't suitable for anywhere that doesn't have a decent garden (which isn't specified either way by OP either).

Unfortunately some pet owners aren't responsible and give the rest of us a bad name. Eviction in Ireland is too difficult when someone does take the piss so many landlords and management companies wont take the risk. We were turned down to rent a place with a massive garden because we had dogs despite the landlord being the adjoined neighbour and having a dog them selfs. A previous tenants small dog had caused damage and they didn't want the hassle. It is up to management company not landlord to make the rules so if they aren't willing to bend them for you then there is nothing you an do short of making trouble for your neighbour (in my opinion).

McGrath5

Ugh, I don't know why people have dogs when they do not own a property. Having a dog in an apartment is totally unsuitable, give it enough time and it can literally destroy a house or an apartment.

OP you could maybe offer the landlord a separate "pet" deposit?

French_Girl

The place I am renting now was also "no pets allowed".
LL, being very nice and understanding, eventually let me have a dog only because of the fact it is a small breed.

I think it really does come down to how big the dog is when renting.

celligraphy

Large dogs aren't usually allowed due to the damage they can cause

Rew

celligraphy wrote: »

Large dogs aren't usually allowed due to the damage they can cause

Small dogs can be as destructive, the only vicious dogs I have ever met are small ones. Out walking my big ones small dogs are the problem constantly. People have many, many misconceptions about dogs, their size and their breed.

athtrasna

Rew wrote: »

To be fair OP doesn't say apartment just property.

To be accurate, they did!

sayuriH wrote: »

Renting apartment, the dog is currently both indoor n outdoor where he is staying now he is ok with either if he's indoor we make sure he gets his daily walk etc.

jd

What you are calling the property management company is the letting agent for the landlord.

You are renting an apartment, and Management Company in this case usually refers to the Owners' Management Company. The landlord has a (long) lease hold agreement with the OMC (unless he owns the whole building, perhaps)

The rules of the OMC supercede anything the letting agent or your landlord may tell you, so be careful.

Rew

athtrasna wrote: »

To be accurate, they did!

Ahh I had missed that

John_Rambo

intheclouds wrote: »

Because small dogs are small and large dogs are large?

Are you seriously saying you cant see the difference?

A lot of large sighthounds are incredibly quiet, they refuse to walk in puddles, keep themselves clean. Once they're walked they're happy to lie down and veg for the day and night.

Smaller types of Spaniels, terriers and corgies and are very feisty and need constant stimulation, they can be destructive and noisy if kept indoors or outdoors alone.

Are you seriously saying you cant see the difference?

Ireland is fairly dog unfriendly and a bit clueless about dogs in general. This uber "modern" view that dogs should be kept outside, away from master and family is a very recent development. It's a big mistake to make. A dog will thrive indoors with it's family and pine outside looking in at it's family.

In saying that, I wouldn't have a dog unless someone was working at home.

I know apartment dogs that are better socialised, behaved and better off than dogs kept outside on three acres of land. A friend of mine has a large apartment with a bullmastiff cross rescue dog in Paris. Not a problem, owner works from home, he's walked twice a day and is the best behaved dog I know.

But, as long as clueless people get dogs, clueless landlords will frown at the idea and the cycle continues.

sayuriH

sayuriH wrote: »

we asked the manager of the company would it be ok to have a large breed dog (husky)

sayuriH wrote: »

the dog is currently both indoor n outdoor where he is staying now he is ok with either if he's indoor we make sure he gets his daily walk etc.

sayuriH wrote: »

what I don't get is why is one rule for one tenant wit small dog and another for other tenant.

athtrasna wrote: »

Most apartments ban pets entirely or restrict them to small animals. Tbh I'm shocked that you would consider an apartment to be a suitable home for such a large dog whose natural habitat is outdoors.

Maybe the Landlord agrees with Athtrasna. I hope you meant "daily walks" plural.

Buona Fortuna

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe the Landlord agrees with Athtrasna. I hope you meant "daily walks" plural.

Maybe the dog wouldn't need too many walks if it was pulling the sledge during the day?

There is about 8 acres of land here - I still wouldn't have a husky.

sayuriH

The dog is currently with family members! The dog has always slept indoors and been in the house when we were home, the current work situation with us is suitable for having a dog live with us there is someone at home at all point during the day, the dog gets walked everyday it's harder right now to give him the walks he used to get because of there being distance between us but he gets 8 mile walk each day and on most days gets a second and third walk which used to always happen when the dog lived with us. The landlord / property manager said there is no need for dog deposit as he allow small dogs or cats at their discretion. On the contract of tenancy it states no dogs or other animals are allowed in the property or on the premises. By allowing small dogs this is a breach of contract no? If your letting a dog in you should let in any animal this is giving a precedent?

sayuriH

sayuriH wrote: »

If your letting a dog in you should let in any animal this is giving a precedent?

There should be no pets in the apartments at all, by allowing pets the LL/letting agent are in breech of the rules of the complex and if the management company gets a complaint or two the people keeping pets could be in trouble and have to remove them immediately. The chances of this happening are much higher if there is a big dog around also.

Aside from that it doesn't matter what is happening in other apartments, the LL can ban you from keeping a big dog or any type of dog if he feels like it. All the people with cats and dogs in the complex are breaking the rules and this shouldn't be a reason for you to break them also. An apartment is no place for an animal and the management company should really enforce the rules.

jd

sayuriH wrote: »

The landlord / property manager said there is no need for dog deposit as he allow small dogs or cats at their discretion. On the contract of tenancy it states no dogs or other animals are allowed in the property or on the premises. By allowing small dogs this is a breach of contract no? If your letting a dog in you should let in any animal this is giving a precedent?

Does the landlord own all the apartments in the development?

Teyla Emmagan

What are you hoping for OP? That you will be able to find some legal point on which you will be able to argue your case with the landlord? It doesn't work like that. If he says no big dogs then it's no big dogs. Find somewhere else to rent.

Tiddlypeeps

sayuriH wrote: »

By allowing small dogs this is a breach of contract no? If your letting a dog in you should let in any animal this is giving a precedent?

A LL can agree to an exception to a rule in the lease, as long as both tenant and LL are happy with this exception then it's fine. If it's a verbal agreement then it's a flimsy situation for the tenant because the LL can at a later point just claim the agreement never took place. But that is between the LL and the other tenants and has nothing to do with you. The LL isn't wiling to make an exception for large dogs so that's really the only thing relevant to you.

You seem to be hoping for a legal loophole that will allow you to bring your dog in but you aren't going to find one. Even if you did find one the LL could just kick you out without giving a reason because you are in the property less than 6 months (at least I assume this is the case since it would be an unusual issue to bring up later in the tenancy, apologies if the assumption is incorrect).

Don't get me wrong, I totally empathise with your situation. I've always had a hard time renting with my own dog. But the way you are going about this isn't going to get you anywhere. Focusing on your neighbours being allowed small dogs is just wasted energy as it's irrelevant to your situation.