If the lease agreement he signed said it was ok to have reptiles in the apartment, would it still be such a big deal? It would mean that the other tenants signed the SAME agreement, knowing that reptiles are allowed in the apartment complex.
I could see where if it wasn't allowed, he could get in big trouble. But if it is, can they still do that?
The issue would be more that the snake got lose, than that he had it in the first place.