Cuddly Corbyn wants to give tenants the right to keep pets

Reply to the comment left by David Lawrenson at 14/02/2018 - 11:41No David, Momentum don't think they know what's best for their followers, they know what's best for their followers and the rest of the electorate and we'd better like it or else. Witness the recent behaviour of Corbyn supporter, Josh Connor, and moreover, Corbyn's failure to condemn it.
That someone such as Corbyn should have been elected to a mainstream party and should remain there is concerning to say the least and is a sad testimony to the times when people are ready to follow extremists (from all "ideologies").

Reply to the comment left by Mandy Thomson at 15/02/2018 - 10:02
Yet more reason why Jeremy Corbyn and his followers should have no place anywhere near mainstream politics: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/25/jeremy-corbyn-accused-having-ostrich-strategy-anti-semitism/

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 15/02/2018 - 09:17
I don't have a problem with responsible pet owning tenants, it's the ones who aren't responsible and flout the terms of the rental agreement (about pets and all other clauses) who are an issue.

Yes, it's crazy and unworkable - let's see when/if it happens.

What about if someone had a cow as a pet in a high rise flat?

What if there was a fire/whatever alarm - where you cant use the lift? Cows apparently cant walk down stairs - or so my err 'mate' told me after trying to get Daisy out of the bedroom before the wife came home.

So a person's pet cow would have to remain and possibly suffer?

Wouldn't that then be animal cruelty Mr Corbyn?

Like Mark Alexander I am an animal lover - and a dog owner. Regardless of nuisance to neighbours from barking no dog should be left all day while its owner is out all day period. It's cruel. High rise flats are a complete no no for obvious reasons. I would though happily let an appropriate property to a dog owner PROVIDED I was 100% satisfied they cared for their pet and would look after it properly. Damage etc would seldom be an issue with a decent dog owner.
Someone posted about rescue dogs and the charities being keen to get dogs homed as a success statistic. I don't know about the others but Blue Cross inspect the home of an applicant before allowing a dog to live there. They would reject high rise flats and other unsuitable properties (ie without a garden) and not permit one of their dogs to go there.
A "Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas" as the saying goes.

Reply to the comment left by Richard Adams at 15/02/2018 - 15:26
Dogs Trust also have a very tough ‘due diligence’ policy in regards to the people they will allow to adopt rescue dogs

Reply to the comment left by Richard Adams at 15/02/2018 - 15:26
Sums up my position exactly. I have tenants with dogs, which I knew about and agreed to at the start of the tenancies. No problems (well, the carpets wear out more quickly) I have also had a tenant who acquired one, then two dogs without any discussion with me. I spent all my time worrying about the dogs and also had complaints from the neighbours. The tenant was not a responsible dog owner!

Richard, the Dogs Trust may be very tough about the new dog owners, but you should have a look at some of the dogs they have on offer - a Rottweiler in Evesham, German Shepherd in Canterbury, Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Loughborough - I could go on. Dogs Trust want to get rid of as many dogs as possible, as quickly as possible. Of course they will offer 'due dilligence.' Fancy any of those in your property? Good owners or not, the place will be adversely affected by the addition of dogs. It's not their house! Think with your head, not your heart!

James, the breed of dog is irrelevant to me. I know full well Dogs Trust have these breeds. Sadly they get abandoned like others. I repeat I'd be quite OK to let to a tenant owning one of these breeds if I was satisfied they were a loving dog owner and the property was suitable, like with a garden.
I would not though countenance letting to an unloving irresponsible dog owner even if the breed was a tiny chihuahua.
Dogs Trust and other rescue charities are very keen to home dogs but not to "get rid of them". Provided the tenant will care for the dog and treat it properly there will be no major repair issues due to damage by the dog anyway most likely. That calibre of tenant would be willing to pay for damage should it occur.

I was so incensed when I read this on Wednesday that I sent of a hasty letter to the Telegraph which was printed next day:
"I wonder whether Jeremy Corbyn has thought this through.
A tenant of mine in a terraced house has recently vacated consequent on the discovery of unauthorised pets.
There was a large hairy dog, a Burrowing Owl flying free and a full grown European Eagle Owl with a wingspan of well over 5ft, tethered in the living room.
We later found out that there were many other animals kept at the house over some years. The carpets have had to be replaced and the house re-decorated throughout. The deposit barely covered a tenth of the damage.
Yours etc."
I am a dog lover and have no objection to pets provided tenants have permission first. I try to meet the pet so I can to gauge whether they are as placid as the owners say or are barely trained wolves with a taste for blood.
However I decided not to insist on meeting the pet of another tenant. It's a 10ft boa constrictor which lives in a vivarium, makes no noise, eats rarely and doesn't chew the furniture. The added bonus is that she deters burglars.
More than half of my tenants have pets and I have had no problems with those that hace asked permission.