trouble finding an apartment?

[Gurgie]

I'd like to know if you all dont mind sharing, have any of you had trouble finding an apartment/duplex/house to rent because of the snakes?

[jglass38]

I think you missed one option on that poll. Don't tell them! I have lived in multiple apartments with reptiles (as well as cats when they weren't allowed). As long as you can keep them hidden if any inspections/repairs need to be done, it shouldnt be an issue.

[JLC]

This is a concern for our family because we move so much and buying a new house with every move isn't an option. What I do when a potential landlord asks if we have any pets is that I tell him we only have pets that live in glass tanks. So far, that has been a very satisfactory answer because as a landlord, their primary concern is animals that may damage the property (ie cats and dogs) and they rarely have enough imagination or care to consider what might actually be living in those tanks.


Now, this is for renting houses. Haven't looked at apartments since we were newlyweds. But it works so far. I don't even hide them if the landlord comes into the house for some reason because we've signed a lease that does not specify that we can't keep certain animals except cats or dogs and they can't do anything about it at that point.

[daniel1983]

....at the last place I rented, when I asked the owner if it would be ok for me to keep snakes....

He said "Sure, snakes don't mess up carpet.....but, you still have to pay a pet deposit"...

...that was the end of it.

[mlededee]

i kept snakes, geckos, frogs, fish, rats and a cat in an apartment for several years with no issues. when i moved in there was nothing in the lease that stated that i couldn't keep them and i never signed anything that said otherwise. the complex changed management and on the web site of the new company it stated "no exotics" but that was it--no definition of what qualified as an exotic. since i never signed any updated lease that stated the same i said nothing and nothing ever came of it.

[joyful girl]

I think you missed one option on that poll. Don't tell them! I have lived in multiple apartments with reptiles (as well as cats when they weren't allowed). As long as you can keep them hidden if any inspections/repairs need to be done, it shouldnt be an issue.

I usually advise against this type of thing because all to often I've seen people get caught having animals and when faced with eviction they just rehome the animals.

If someone is willing to be evicted and find a new place if/when caught then fine.

[jotay]

I think you missed one option on that poll. Don't tell them! I have lived in multiple apartments with reptiles (as well as cats when they weren't allowed). As long as you can keep them hidden if any inspections/repairs need to be done, it shouldnt be an issue.

Thats the option I went with when I moved. My place excepts pets up to 100lbs so I never brought it up then once I moved in I was really reading thru my lease and notice in small print that no exotics where allowed. Oops!

I figure that if they ever find out I am just gonna tell them when they mention exotics I figured they meant monkees, lions etc. And that my snakes are common ones found outdoors. My landlord wouldn't know the difference and besides we have a decent relationship. I think they would be fine w/ a ball python but now if I was keeping retics or rocks or annies that would be a whole different story

And if I had to move then I would and my snakes would go with me just like my son would as I view them as part of the family.

[djslurp1200]

I voted no problem...

I haven't had any problems myself. In my current apartment I got a little worried because I was buying snakes left and right and I never checked with them...I wanted to make sure if they were or not so I called up as a prospective renter and asked if people were allowed to move in with a couple...they asked what kind of snake and I told the lady ball python and she was like "omg I want one! but let me go check..." to come back on the phone and say "yeah those are allowed!" I was relieved and possibly lucky?...

You can go without telling the complex but sometimes you have those unexpected times where you need maintinence to come fix something and I Just wouldn't like to find out that I had to move or sell because of them...

[Nate]

Well I started getting my snakes after i moved into an apartment. The fine print on the contact clearly states "no exotics, including snakes..." To be honest...i do not care of the consequences right now. If i'm asked to remove the snakes or leave, i'll gladly leave. The best thing i can do at the moment is to keep things hidden away so it doesn't cause problems and keep my mouth shut...none of my neighbors know what I have. When I bring home the food, i keep it in a concealed box..not a box that screams "PET CO" or "PET LAND". In a year or so i'll be in a house (i hope)...so i refuse to let anyone dictate my hobby.

[lillyorchid]

When I moved to FL for a whole month before moving back up here... I had a heck of a time finding a place that allowed me to bring my snakes along. The word snake and people were like "no sorry", etc. After a lot of talking over the phone to this one place, I was able to talk the guy into letting me keep 1 snake and under 4 feet long. I thought you got to be kidding me... just one!? Little did he know that both Jinx and Sebastian came along with me.

As for previous apartments around here, my ex and I snuck two of my rabbits in with us. All was fine for a few months till one of the neighbors heard them fighting or something during the day when we were not there. Long story short it was us getting evicted OR getting rid of them. My ex and I at the time didn't have anywhere else to live right then and there so sadly we had to put the rabbits in a shelter.

So well now I wouldnt advise sneeking any animals in with you - unless you are able to say "fine... see ya" and pack up and leave right then a there.