Renting with reptiles

[paperaith]

Have you had a hard time finding an apartment as a reptile owner? I will be moving soon and I am a little concerned about that. Most importantly, I have a dog and a cat moving too, which I think might be harder to find a place for. But still curious about your experiences.

If there's already a recent thread discussing this, please link me to it; sorry if this is a frequently repeated topic.

[jdouglas]

I've been looking for an apartment and discussed my snake with a few places. Some have size limits and some have said just not to say anything and only call it a caged pet. (hamsters, snakes, birds, etc.)
A few said outright no but honestly they would never know. My last apartment I had the maintenance guy come by 1 time in the year I stayed. And he only went into the kitchen.
Unless you have multiple snakes I don't think you would have a problem.

Also the few that said size limits also said the cage must have a locking mechanism.


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[Zombie]

I've been looking for an apartment and discussed my snake with a few places. Some have size limits and some have said just not to say anything and only call it a caged pet. (hamsters, snakes, birds, etc.)
A few said outright no but honestly they would never know. My last apartment I had the maintenance guy come by 1 time in the year I stayed. And he only went into the kitchen.
Unless you have multiple snakes I don't think you would have a problem.

Also the few that said size limits also said the cage must have a locking mechanism.


Sent from my iPad2

Apartments usually only care about the dogs/cats and aquariums with fish in em. Birds and reptiles seem to be OK, at least in my apartments...

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[babyknees]

I've found it hard to get a REAL answer out of anyone. It seems like unless they say outright "no snakes" they lump them in with "caged animals" which don't go on the lease. I get the feeling it's "don't ask don't tell". It also seems like a lot of leasing agents will say anything to get you to apply.

[The Serpent Merchant]

My apartment complex couldn't careless that I have reptiles, the girl in the office seemed freaked out lol but apart from that nothing. No fee or anything. My apartment complex does require a fee to have a cat, dog, rodents, or fish (10 gallon tank or larger.... no tanks over 40 gallons allowed)

[DavidMundy]

My apartment says only cats and dogs are only allowed (which they make you pay extra for) but all the maintenance guys who come in my apartment check out all my reptiles, take photos of them and ask to hold them....one dude even asked if he could bring his kid over to see them. If I were you I wouldn't tell them you have any reptiles just in case. It's not like snakes can ruin any part of the apartment like a cat or dog can.... I don't see why some places care.

[WarriorPrincess90]

I typically just ask if aquarium pets are okay. I only divulge what I have when asked outright. Although, every time I've moved somewhere, I start with..."Are pets okay?" Of course, if there are specifications, I ask about the aquarium pets. I was asked by one leasing agent "Yes, but what do you have?" My reply at the time was simply "A ball python." Her eyes got huge but she said, "Technically, no. But I don't see it, I don't hear it, I don't care." So I think you'll just have to carefully feel them out. (At this point I had become friendly with her, so she was accommodating. )

Dogs and cats typically make it harder than "aquarium" pets do.

I would never stay somewhere that my pets could not go with me, so this is a regular conversation for me. I have moved almost every year since I've been in college. Student housing is awful. lol.

[olstyn]

My experience has been that it's better to just be honest about what you've got. Generally speaking, it's been no big deal for me to have my geckos in apartments, but I have always made sure to explicitly get permission before I'll even look at a place. It's literally the first question I ask when I call to arrange a tour of a place, and if they don't answer with some variation of "sure, no problem, as long as they stay in their cages, it's fine," then I just move on to the next possibility.

You really don't want to run into a situation where you're getting evicted because of your pets - it's just not worth the hassle, and it'll follow you around for YEARS if it happens, making it much harder to find somewhere else to live. It may, generally speaking, be easier to ask forgiveness than permission, but in this scenario, it's definitely better to ask permission.

ETA: Also, it's a good idea to get it written into your lease that you are allowed to have your pets, because that way if you live there for several years and management changes along the way, you're at least somewhat protected from policy changes the new management might make.

[decensored]

I check the lease before I sign it. As long as pets are allowed than there should be no issue. I have 12 snakes in my apartment - there are no by-lays in toronto limiting the amount of reptiles I can have and my lease allows pets. There's nothing they can do.. HAHA. With that said the responcible thing to do is let your new landlords know about your pets and see what they say. Most buildings don't care. There are too many units for them to care what you do in yours.. The only issue I can see is if your hydro is included in the rent they may charge you extra if you have heat sources for the animals..

[slithering house]

every apartent or house ive checked out in hampton roads says dog and cats but no snakes alot of them have info on the ban and dont care what kind you have but the house im living in allows normal animals dogs cats even dangerous breeds but no snakes but their easily hidable and ive invested too much to get rid of them especially when i may move eventually its not the best way but in my case it is