Contract-holder (tenant) responsibilities

You have the right to ask to make alterations to your home as a Council tenant. This request must be in writing, and you will need to receive written confirmation from us agreeing to your request. We will not refuse if the request is reasonable and does not make the property unsafe or reduce its value.

Making alterations without the Councils consent

If you make an alteration to your home without our written agreement, we may tell you to return the property to how it was before. If you do not, we may do the work and you will have to pay for it. You must not remove walls or take out any other part of your home without our written agreement.

Loft conversions

We are very unlikely to give permission for a loft conversion. If you are overcrowded at your property and in need of additional space, please contact the Tenancy Management Team to discuss the potential of applying to transfer to a bigger property or other rehousing options and advice.

Laminate flooring

If you live in a flat above ground floor, we do not allow you to install laminate flooring. This is because it can cause a noise nuisance to other residents.

If you live in a council property and install laminate flooring, please be aware that, if we need to do work on the property that involves the removal of the flooring (such as after a rewire) we will not pay the cost for the flooring to be replaced or refitted.

If you would like more information about applying to make an improvement or alteration, please contact us on 029 20537 501 or email TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk.

Electrical Vehicles

You must ask for permission if you want to install an electrical car charging point. You also need to request permission if you are thinking about keeping a mobility scooter. Please contact the Tenancy Management Team to discuss this on 029 2053 7501.

Your tenancy officer may carry out a visit called a property condition check to ensure that your home is safe, secure and being kept in a clean and well-decorated condition. The visit also gives you the chance to discuss any issues you are having at your home or within the local area.

Visits are carried out by Tenancy Officers, who all carry identification to show they are employees of the council.

If you want to run a business or trade in your home, you will need to ask for permission. The request must be in writing and sent to the Tenancy Management Team to consider and ensure that the business does not mean that your home is being used for anything that breaches the terms and conditions of your occupation contract (tenancy) Please email your written request to the Tenancy Management Team on TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk.

We will not give permission for your council home to be used for dog or animal breeding, buying and selling cars, or a food preparation business.

Before written consent is provided, we will check that the proposed business will not interfere with the property or cause a nuisance to your neighbours and people within your local area. You may also need to get planning permission, a business license, and business insurance to run the business.

If we give consent but then receive complaints about the business or the use of your property, this permission can be withdrawn.

In general we would give permission for those who work for an employer and work from home. However, we would not give permission for anything that causes a nuisance to your neighbours. Please contact Tenancy Management on 029 2053 7501 if you have any questions.

Communal areas within a block of flats are shared spaces with other residents. These areas sometimes include courtyards, stairs, lifts, landings, lighting and entrance halls.

Every resident living within a block has a shared responsibility for these areas. If you live in a block of flats you will make sure:

• there is no interference with security and safety. For example, communal entrance doors should not be jammed open, and strangers should not be let into the building without identification.
• communal areas are kept clean, tidy and clear of obstruction.
• fire risks within the communal areas will be kept to a minimum
• communal areas are kept free of personal items. For example, doormats, shoes, plants or bikes.
• your visitors act in a responsible manner and use the door entry system appropriately and do not loiter in the communal area.

If you are experiencing issues in the communal areas and would like to ask for advice or make a complaint, please contact the Tenancy Management team on 029 2053 7501 or email TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk.

If you live in a council property, you are usually allowed to keep a pet if you have your own garden and access to it.  However, in line with your housing occupation contract (tenancy), there are other terms that you must follow.

These are that:

• Your pet or pets must not cause nuisance or frighten other people.

You should be aware that:

• The Council has the right to restrict the number of animals you have or require you to remove them altogether. If you do not restrict or remove animals, we may seek legal action.

There are certain pets that you will not be able to keep in your home, including farm animals, dangerous animals and dogs which are considered banned breeds. These currently include:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• XL Bully the Government are making plans to make this a banned breed

If you want to keep hens, ducks and pigeons you must have written permission from us. You are not allowed to keep cockerels.

Pets in flats

If you live in a flat, you must request permission and obtain consent from the Council before getting a dog. You will need to complete and sign a form called a Responsible Dog Owner Agreement.  You can ask for this form at any Community Hub or by contacting the Tenancy Management team on 029 2053 7501 or email TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk.

Only one dog (except for assistance dogs) is allowed to be kept in multi-storey blocks or older persons accommodation after permission has been obtained.

You do not require permission to keep a cat within a council flat, however the council may restrict the number of cats allowed within a flat.

Complaints about your pets

We do get complaints about pets and some of the most common complaints that the council receives about tenants’ dogs are:

• Barking
• Fouling
• Being left unattended
• Breeding
• Not being kept on a lead in communal areas

What could happen if someone is complaining about your pet

If we receive repeated complaints, we may ask you to remove the animal. This depends on the severity of a complaint. We will consider legal action if the animal is not removed.

What to do if you’re worried about an animal or its treatment

If you have concerns about the welfare of an unattended animal, please contact the Council’s Dog Warden on 029 2071 1243. The Dog Warden Service is available between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am and 4:30pm on a Friday.

You can also contact the RSPCA’s cruelty or neglect line on 0300 1234 999.

If you are experiencing issues with a neighbour’s pet and would like to ask for advice or make a complaint, please contact the Tenancy Management team on 029 2053 7501, email TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk, or visit any Community Hub.