Pets and housing Associations

[MrJohnW]

(Please move to a better place if there is one. I could only find a homelessness forum, not a general housing one).

 

Hi There,

 

I am moving into a new property(1st floor flat) in a housing association on one of these new 5 year fixed term tenancies, with a 1 year starter tenancy first. I currently live in a council property, in which I have a lifetime tenancy.

 

I have 3 cats(indoors) and the copy of the tenancy agreement they sent me states I need prior written permission to have pets. They have given verbal permission but say as I am not a tenant they can not provide anything in writing until I am a tenant (have signed the agreement and taken possession of the keys). They have also said they allow a maximum of 2 cats in a property, unless otherwise authorised(again, they have agreed verbally) although that limitation is not in the tenancy agreement.

 

They said that we are allowed 3 cats with the provisio that if anyone complains we will be told to rehome them. Now these cats are not only a part of my family, but to lose them would cause my wife great distress(she has mental health issues and the cats are greatly theraputic).

 

Does anyone know where I stand legally on this?

 

Thanks

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

I've moved you to the lettings forum for further advice.

 

HB

[mariner51]

Sounds like when you relocate you will also vacate your lifetime T agreement, so why are you moving?

[MrJohnW]

Moving to the other side of the country so the wife can be closer to her family. I am not happy about the loss of a lifetime tenancy.

[citizenB]

I think that you probably wont have any protection in law with regards to your cats How old are they ?

[MrJohnW]

Two of them are four, and the other is five.

[citizenB]

Two of them are four, and the other is five.

 

Ah, all pretty young cats.

 

If your wife has mental health issues, perhaps you could point out that losing one or any of them might cause more anguish !