My dilemma

So hello all.. I have a huge dilemma, and need your help..

So I have two cats now.. Angel and Chessy, and the place we are renting states that we can have animals. Now the company is changing hands, and now they are saying come October 1st, we have to sign a lease that states we can't have animals unless there outside. Well I don't want to lose my cats.

We are looking at moving soon up to Indianapolis, IN.. So what do I do??? What If I don't get moved in enough time? All gonna depend on the job and stuff.. Oct 1st is really soon.. Should I try and hide them???

Any ideas?

Thanks
H

I would just focus on trying to get moved ASAP. I am sure you will agree with me here... It's impossible to live without your cats! Since they are changing the rules on you... (which isn't right) I would definetly move! Good Luck!

I have a 5 yr old daughter as well, and we are literally moving like 60 miles away, so there are so many variables involved.. Like a new job, and place that accepts pets.. That kind of thing..

I'm trying to a land contract, that way in 2 years, I can just buy a place...

But I don't know if I can get it all together by 10-1... Ugggggghhh...

I'm so confused on what to do..

H

Hold on to your current lease and don't sign anything that says you can't have animals in the apartment with you! No one can force you to sign anything - you sign only if you are in agreement with what is stated.

Contact your local Tenants' Council right away. I'd also do some research on the web about laws and tenants' rights in your area. Indoor cats should not be put outside and I sincerely doubt they can make you do that, unless you sign an agreement.

They will use scare tatics to try to get you to sign.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

The apartment complex I lived in when I was little changed it like this so you couldnt have animals but there was a little exception thing that said if you had the animals prior to this change you could keep them and just not get any more pets but you had to put down a little extra money. I would try and see if they would make an exception like that. If not, I would fight until you can move. If they dont want your pets, you dont want to live there anyways...

IF your previous lease is not up by October 1st then you should not have to sign anything. Look up a lawyer (contract Lawyer) that offers a free 15 minute consultation and see if you can obtain a copy of what the "new" Lease looks like.

They may be making you sign another year too.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Hold on to your current lease and don't sign anything that says you can't have animals in the apartment with you! No one can force you to sign anything - you sign only if you are in agreement with what is stated.

Contact your local Tenants' Council right away. I'd also do some research on the web about laws and tenants' rights in your area. Indoor cats should not be put outside and I sincerely doubt they can make you do that, unless you sign an agreement.

They will use scare tatics to try to get you to sign.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Click to expand...

Yes, exactly.

Usually when a company changes hands or comes up with new policy, they grandfather in the previous rights/clauses for existing tenants and the changes only apply to new tenants moving in.

Check before you sign anything, and please, do not sign it and toss your kitties outside whatever you do!

Also, it wouldn't hurt that when you make inquiries and/or complaints to various departments, that you have other tenants on board with you. There is power in numbers

How long have you been living there? I understand the company is changing hands but if they have tenants with pets prior to the changing because it was allowed I don't think they can make you get rid of your animals. There has to be some sort of grandfather clause. I would definately see if you can contact a lawyer. I'm studying law now but haven't gotten than far but I'm almost positive they can't make you do that since it was allowed prior. New tenants would be a different story.

Let us know what you find out and how it goes. Good luck!

It really annoys me when people (the new owners) try to pull stuff like this. This is your home, and as long as you abide by your renter's agreement, they have to, too. And they cannot evict you if you don't agree to a change in your lease. That criteria will not be on the list of legal reasons to evict.

Call the Tenants' Council and they can tell you your rights. I agree with Natalie_ca that when you find out the law, spread the word so other kitties don't get put outside.

Have to sign... sheesh... the nerve.

Don't let anybody intimidate you! And don't even think of giving up your kitties.

Make sure you look up your Tenant's Rights. I've dealt with a few nasty LL's before, and knowing your rights is essential.

Don't sign anything that says you can't have your pets.

Look up your rights and possibly a lawyer before doing anything.

If you end up having just to cover a week or two and there is no way to have the cats stay in the flat you might consider boarding them for that time. I.e think of it as them being boarded while you're away on holiday. That's definately better than letting them outside or giving them up. They'll be able to cope for a little bit in a non-optimal place to be able to get back to you and live out their lives happily in your new place.

However like everyone said don't sign anything yet and check your rights.

And if there's some quirk in the law and you feel you have no options... stall. Say you are going to sign but don't ever do it. Even in the worst possible scenario, it would take a few months for them to evict anyone. But that's just to ease your mind, it will not come to that.

I currenlty don't have a lease.. We moved in, and this is a house we rent from the company I work for. Well the company portion that owns the house is changing hands. Going from one company to the next. So I don't have a lease, never had to have one, and I've been there for a year so far. Well a little over a year... So long story short.. I have no lease to stand on, or back me up...

It's just a mess....
H

You still have rights, under the law. You need to be pro-active.