I need urgent advice on my apartments no pet policy

[Trackstrong83]

My apartment manager is threatening to fine me 100$ for each animal I have, so a total of 700$. I've had these snakes in my apartment for three years now and never had a problem. All the maintenance guys and all the staff loves them but the manager just found out.

In my lease I did sign a portion (very small portion) that says this is a no pet property, and now I'm in a bind. Do I have an argument for saying my snakes are "collectors items" as oppose to pets? What do I do?

[Neal]

My apartment manager is threatening to fine me 100$ for each animal I have, so a total of 700$. I've had these snakes in my apartment for three years now and never had a problem. All the maintenance guys and all the staff loves them but the manager just found out.

In my lease I did sign a portion (very small portion) that says this is a no pet property, and now I'm in a bind. Do I have an argument for saying my snakes are "collectors items" as oppose to pets? What do I do?

Honestly they can have you evicted for breaking an agreement. While it sucks that it exists, you did sign it in the beginning. Whether or not you say they're a collectors item or not, they're still pets because they're live animals. You're lucky to have gone so long without him finding out and they can charge you per animal or something like that, especially since it's in the contract that it isn't a pet property. I'm assuming he's making an exception for one of two reasons.

1.) Because they don't pee or poop inside the house then it's no risk involving damage.
2.) He wants to keep the money for himself because it's a no pet property.

Honestly if it were me, depending on how long on the contract you have left there's two ways to go about this.

1.) You don't pay anything and you move out, but if you're still under lease if they take you to court the court will make you pay the remaining money you owe for the time left on that lease(sucks but it's the truth).
2.) You meet him and tell him that you know it's a no pet policy so the money is going to be for him and make a middle wage with him, offer him $350 just for him to keep it out of the air.

Now while I'd do option #2, there's always a chance when he wants money he could threaten you with this again so I wish you luck.

[CrystalRose]

Since they are animals I doubt you could claim then as collectors items. I think your only option is going to be either pay the fine or move. Maybe see if someone can keep them for you for awhile until you can find another place. Since you signed the no pet portion of your lease I don't think you're going to have much wiggle room.

[Trackstrong83]

this is word for word what my lease says
"Pets are not permitted in or about the apartment, except for animals assisting disabled or handicapped person and fish in an aquarium that can be no larger than 10 gallons."

My thing is, they use the word "pet" only. And the official definition of pet as from dictionary.com is: "any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

My snakes and dragon are neither tame or domesticated, and none are companions. And I do not care for them "affectionately".

[Crazymonkee]

Its a living animal, it's a pet. Maybe if you would have asked before getting them he may have ok'd it being they are not prone to cause damage ( this is what I did with all my pets)
You really don't have any wiggle room... he could evict you if he chose to.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

[olstyn]

this is word for word what my lease says
"Pets are not permitted in or about the apartment, except for animals assisting disabled or handicapped person and fish in an aquarium that can be no larger than 10 gallons."

My thing is, they use the word "pet" only. And the official definition of pet as from dictionary.com is: "any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

My snakes and dragon are neither tame or domesticated, and none are companions. And I do not care for them "affectionately".

I REALLY doubt that's how either the apartment manager or the law would see it. You blew it, now it's time to pay the piper.

Also, how many different versions of this thread do we have to have? I swear either this or the version where some kid is going to college and wants to hide animals in their dorm room come up weekly. Can we just get a sticky thread saying this crap is a bad idea already?

[Raven01]

Do you have a landlord tenant act in your jurisdiction?
1st thing to do is to check that.
Where i live "no pets" is a common clause but, the landlord tenant board ruled that clause is always invalid. Pets cannot be denied in Ontario but, the owner is strictly liable for any and all damages resulting from keeping that pet. It does get a little grey when it comes to animals causing allergic reactions among any other tenants though.
Before you decide what you are going to do you need to get informed on how the law regarding such things is practiced in your area.

[wolfayal]

this is word for word what my lease says
"Pets are not permitted in or about the apartment, except for animals assisting disabled or handicapped person and fish in an aquarium that can be no larger than 10 gallons."

My thing is, they use the word "pet" only. And the official definition of pet as from dictionary.com is: "any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.

My snakes and dragon are neither tame or domesticated, and none are companions. And I do not care for them "affectionately".

Frankly saying they're not pets nor are they tame or domesticated would just make your landlord even more inclined to evict you, because that logic you're saying you have wild animals in your apartment.

I'm sorry that you're looking at losing a large chunk of change, your animals, or the roof over your head, but on the other hand you chose to twist the rules. It's nice that your neighbors and maintenance people had no problems, but ultimately your landlord makes the choice as he owns the building. If you had mentioned to him up front or asked if you could pay a deposit before got the snakes, he probably would have been okay. So now as opposed to a $500 catch-all pet deposit, you're looking at $700 fine.

That's also incredibly unfair to your animals to put them in a situation where it was a matter of time before you were caught. It's your responsibility to wisely care for them, and an uncertain living arrangement does not meet that requirement.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Good luck bro.

[Diamond Serpents]

Sucks man, but he has every right to fine you. You signed a contract with him stating no pets and it is what it is. I'm not saying this to be mean or harsh either.

I signed a no pet policy with my landlord for 2 years and I told him hey I got reptiles that stay in cages and I told him how many BPs I had and a beardie. I told him at the table is this cool with you... before I signed, he said you can have any animal you want as long as its in a cage.

He just didn't want cats and dogs pooping and peeing everywhere, he runs a business renting houses and some people are just dirt balls so I don't blame some landlords.

Don't tell him they are a collection that's just silly at this point he just wants them out. What you need to do is show him how they are properly caged and don't stink and cant escape. Offer him some extra cash like 300 dollars for a pet security deposit, if that doesn't work out you gotta move or keep your word on what you signed. Hope some of this helps you out.