BP : Dangerous animal?

[Sensei345]

So i just got my BP a few weeks back and had checked with my landlords to approve him for the apartment i am in. I was denied unfortunately so i gave my 30 days notice and will be moving at the end of month into a place that has no problem with snakes. After being denied though i had inquired as to why and did not recieve an answer until yesterday, approximately a month after asking their reason for not approving a snake, and was told that he is a dangerous animal and they are concerned about him getting out and damaging the baseboard heaters or getting into any of the units beside me. They had even gone so far as to threaten reporting me to the RCMP, saying im harboring a dangerous animal, even though he is not considered such by law here in alberta.


I've since moved him to a friends place who has plenty of experience caring for snakes, mainly just to avoid any headache's. I'm just kinda venting a little because it's done nothing but aggravate me as to how uneducated these people are and was curious what other people's opinion on the matter is.

Personally, i feel like im being taken advantage of and/or having my landlords try to intimidate me.


P.S. These landlords are also saying i need to pay extra out of pocket for a professional steam cleaning company to clean the carpets because i have a cat, after i already paid a $250 non-refundable damage deposit just to have my cat here.

[imitha]

Sounds like u just had a very stupid landlord. Bp's are known to be one of if not the most docile snakes. Docile and dangerous are pretty much antonyms. I could maybe see him denying it for fear he would climb into some mechanical device and damage that but with the whole threat to report you to the RCMP I don't think that's what he meant. I hope your move didn't cost you too much in money or headache and wish you and your ball python the best of luck with that

[distaff]

So i just got my BP a few weeks back and had checked with my landlords to approve him for the apartment i am in. I was denied unfortunately so i gave my 30 days notice and will be moving at the end of month into a place that has no problem with snakes. After being denied though i had inquired as to why and did not recieve an answer until yesterday, approximately a month after asking their reason for not approving a snake, and was told that he is a dangerous animal and they are concerned about him getting out and damaging the baseboard heaters or getting into any of the units beside me. They had even gone so far as to threaten reporting me to the RCMP, saying im harboring a dangerous animal, even though he is not considered such by law here in alberta.


I've since moved him to a friends place who has plenty of experience caring for snakes, mainly just to avoid any headache's. I'm just kinda venting a little because it's done nothing but aggravate me as to how uneducated these people are and was curious what other people's opinion on the matter is.

Personally, i feel like im being taken advantage of and/or having my landlords try to intimidate me.


P.S. These landlords are also saying i need to pay extra out of pocket for a professional steam cleaning company to clean the carpets because i have a cat, after i already paid a $250 non-refundable damage deposit just to have my cat here.

Re. the cat: get your lease out, and get a copy showing the payment you made when you moved in. If you can't make headway, ask if they will wave it if YOU steam the carpets. Many grocery/hardware stores rent steamers. It won't cost anywhere near $250 to steam a carpet. Clean extra well when you move out, and take pics showing how clean it is.

The landlord has some legitimate concern that a BP could get out, and into another apt. Imagination being what it is, that other tenant would stroke out, die of fear and shock on the spot. The tenant's family would then sue the landlord for everything he has - all because of a loose BP. The landlord might also be concerned that a loose BP in the walls would short circut some electrical, and burn the place down. Doesn't matter if that fear is even realistic.

I have been a landlord, and everything that can possibly go wrong does - NEVER underestimate a tenant's ability to inadvertently cause an expensive problem, and a problem that adversely affects other tenants. Just the way it is.

Good luck with your new place and your new pet.

[Monty's_Mom]

I do believe that according to the landlord tenancy act, any damage deposit, even a pet deposit cannot be non-refundable. If the apartment is in good condition, they have to refund you a pet deposit. As for reporting you to the RCMP, if it is mentioned again, just laugh in their face.

Video the condition of the apartment before you leave. Start the video with holding that day's newspaper and leave it unedited. I don't know what type of professional you can ask for an unbiased opinion on whether your cat had caused any damage but perhaps call the Alberta gov't dep't for the landlord tenancy act and see if they have recommendations. I also think they cannot refuse to refund any type of damage deposit for steam cleaning carpets if it is just normal wear and tear.

[Albert Clark]

Kudos to you for all your appropriate decisions. Sorry for the inconvenience of having to move. Just pay whatever they ask for now and to avoid conflict. Then after you have all your receipts and paperwork in order file a claim in small claims court suing for the maximum, including pain and suffering!!!! Good luck and stay in peace and not pieces.

[Sensei345]

Re. the cat: get your lease out, and get a copy showing the payment you made when you moved in. If you can't make headway, ask if they will wave it if YOU steam the carpets. Many grocery/hardware stores rent steamers. It won't cost anywhere near $250 to steam a carpet. Clean extra well when you move out, and take pics showing how clean it is.

Unfortunately i did not sign a lease and i am sub-renting from one of my roommates. So that is going to be a little tricky. Thankfully though they did not do any inspection upon moving in, there is no documentation of the condition before i had moved in so regardless of if there is any damage's, since they are unable to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that any damages where caused i should be entitled to my full damage deposit back, minus the $250 non refundable which i had previously told them to use for the professional steam cleaning since the reason for wanting it done is because there was a cat here. I offered to steam clean and was told it would need to be done again by a professional, i basically took it like they didn't think i know how to clean. rather insulting really.

I do believe that according to the landlord tenancy act, any damage deposit, even a pet deposit cannot be non-refundable.

I did extensive research on the limitations of pets etc when renting, and yes in alberta you can charge a refundable or non-refundable damage deposit for any/each pet up to, but not exceding one month's rent. So, for example, since it is 1300/month where i am at they could have charged 1300 non refundable AND a 1300 refundable damage deposit for EACH pet. However, i dont know anyone in their right mind that would pay anything like that.

Additionally, in alberta it is entirely up to the landlord(s) as to what pets are allowed in their building, if any. No reason has to be given. The tenant laws in alberta don't really protect the tenant, short of getting renter's insurance.

[se7en]

I do believe that according to the landlord tenancy act, any damage deposit, even a pet deposit cannot be non-refundable. If the apartment is in good condition, they have to refund you a pet deposit. As for reporting you to the RCMP, if it is mentioned again, just laugh in their face.

my apt complex charges $750 per animal, $500 of which is non-refundable. good thing it does not apply to my snakes, because there's no way i could afford to pay that (i have 18 snakes, with 1 more coming soon).

[Lizardlicks]

Good lord, the most I've ever paid for a non-refundable pet deposit was $300 and the guy said "Yeah, you can have whatever animals you want." I had at the time two cats and a dog and later got the two snakes without any fuss.

[Drake Moonslayer]

Thankfully. Every place I have lived at so far with my 14 snakes I have been able to avoid the pet deposite because they see how my animals cannot escape and since they know that they are properly caged the landlords also know that there cannot be any damage to the property from them.

Best of luck with everything. Sorry to hear about the problems you are having.

[Tarzan152]

I was more distraught to hear about the non refundable deposit than the landlord rejecting the snake. LOL.. As a former Real Estate agent, I understand the landlord's seemingly outlandish concern because as distaff said above - if it can happen, it will. It's their property so they can say what can and can not stay. As for the pet deposit, that's standard as well. They can charge up to one month's rent BUT in NY and Cali, it must be refundable if no evidence of animal damage had occurred.

Whatever the case, glad to hear you found a better place.

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