Renting homes with reptiles + rodents

I'm not looking to rent ATM but will be looking to rent after graduating nursing school and landing a job next year. I've seen quite a few homes around here that advertise pets ok and big dogs and all that. I know honesty is the best policy because I do not want to be evicted. The problem is when you say you have several racks of breeding rats and then a bunch of snakes people are going to be inclined to say no right off the bat. How do you approach these situations? How do you gently put what animals you have and say it in a way that you're not going to get that instant no? Again I will be renting a house not an apartment. I'd really appreciate any real life experience and advice.

To me, renting a home is totally different from an apartment where your neighbor is on 2-3 sides of you (walls, ceiling, floor). Everybody can so easily be impacted from what each other do.

For a house, if pets are ok, that's good enough as long as you are not violating any ordinances. It's none of the landlord's business.

If your snakes or feeders get loose, chances are very low that they will come into contact with neighbors. Also the landlord does not have to answer to neighbors like s/he would if it was an apartment or duplex.

I would not feel guilty keeping quiet about the snakes and rats as long as pets are ok.

Photos of how you house the animals can help.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

For a house, if pets are ok, that's good enough as long as you are not violating any ordinances. It's none of the landlord's business.

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Actually anything that goes on on the property IS/Can be the property owners business as they are the ones that are ultimately liable.
If you want to make it no ones business then its best to buy your own property/house.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Actually anything that goes on on the property IS/Can be the property owners business as they are the ones that are ultimately liable.
If you want to make it no ones business then its best to buy your own property/house.

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Of Course!:)

I'm just saying that if the landlord is acceptable to "pets", then my conscience would be clear of feeling guilty or feeling like a being a weasel.

It's fine, just keep it quite, if landlord come visit, say it's a clothing rack.

A big dog does way more damage than even 100 snakes in the house, so I would imagine it'll be ok.

Landlords are worried about liability and damage. There are few concerns with snakes.

Feeders are another story, as escapees can be very destructive; ASF in particular will chew on electrical wiring and even some plumbing in no time.

My snakes are aquarium pets. I leave it at that if asked. I prefer not to bring it up at all.

Plus, Florida rental law treats any aquarium of 10 gallons or less as basically a decoration. Nothing in the statute says the contents must be fish.

As far as I'm concerned, a 32 qt tub is close enough to fit that bill.

How I go about the question is by asking if dogs, cats , hamsters are ok to have as pets on the property. See how they react to that question to get a general idea of there stance on pets.

I then usually go about hypothetically wanting to get some reptiles which would be stored in properly closed cages. Usually if you butter landlords up a little with hypotheticals, facts, and extra cash deposits they will go for it. Just don't give them a reason to question you too much at the beginning about quantity or what type of reptiles.

I try to be honest about having animals but vague that they are snakes. If your just building a relationship with someone saying snakes is a red flag. Like a job interview you want to put your best foot forward maybe stretch the truth a little but keep things reasonable.