When renting an apartment, should I disclose my pet snake?

Question

Here's the deal: I'm looking for an apartment and I have one 2 - 3 foot long ball python and I'm looking to get an Argentine Black and White Tegu (a largeish lizard). When asked if I have any pets, should I tell potential landlords about them? They would be in secure tanks and would not cause any damage to the apartment like a dog or cat would.

I would rather be honest with my landlord but at the same time, I need a place to live and don't want to get shot down because of my reptiles! Any thoughts?

Answer 1

.It's a tough one, if you tell your landlord he might say no, if you don't tell him, he might find them and evict you.

I would be honest and explain they would be kept in secure setups etc

Rene G

The landlord would have every right to evict someone if they break there contract.

Answer 2

If the policy is a strong NO PETS policy, tell them and offer to show them the housing you use to demonstrate how secure it is.

If the policy is NO CATS OR DOGS, don;t sweat it. Most apartments are OK with caged animals- fish, hamsters, etc.

Be sure to clarify which it is, however. Use a hypothetical "Would it be OK to have a pet that is always in a cage, like a bird, fish, box turtle, or gerbil?"

Note the sneaky bits- some people hate hamsters- noisy little buggers! Use gerbils, something most people have heard of but do not have an opinion on. Also note that the question includes a REPTILE- but again, not one that people hate.

Also note that you did not say you HAD one of those, just that they are examples.

If the person says they are OK, try to get that in writing "Policy allows quiet pets that stay in cages, like birds, gerbils, box turtles, etc." sort of thing.

The sticky part is if the manager starts saying things like 'some are OK' or 'we decide that on a case by case basic'.

The problem is that they don't want snakes and can point at a written policy about them specifically or in general, they can kick you out when they find them.

"They won't find them" you say? You DO know your landlord has the right to enter your place without you there for maintenance, etc. in much of the US, right? Your heat will NEVER go out? He will NEVER spray for bugs?

Answer 3

I suggest you never tell your landlord about it. It's very unlikely that he will allow you to live in the apartment with a snake in your possession, especially since a lot of people are terribly afraid of snakes. At least one of your neighbors are likely to be afraid of snakes. The landlord himself might have a snake phobia, and that's bound to be worse.

The nice thing about snakes is that they don't make any noise unlike dogs and cats. Smuggle the snake into the apartment without your landlord knowing it. When you first move in, you can choose to hide the python in a box with holes. Make the box as compact as can be tolerated by your pet, so it won't arouse any suspicion. I suggest you decorate the box so that nobody will know that there's a living thing inside it.

Once you have settled, place your python in its proper lodging. And take care to never, ever allow anyone to see the python.

Answer 4

yes just tell them if you lie they will find out and most likely to kick you out. just tell them the truth and if they dont believe you find another place theres plenty out there.

Answer 5

honesty is always best, as you keep them in secure cages i am sure you will find a landlord that does not mind, if you don't tell them then you may face eviction by being in breach of your contract, if you are open and honest about your reptiles they will more than likely except them better than if you hide the fact you have pets, best of luck hope you find a place to live

Answer 6

tell the truth because if the landlord ever inspects the building and sees then he might evict you.

Answer 7

yes...you can find apartments that will take snakes...it might take a while but you can do it.  we found an apartment that allows us 2 dogs and 5 snakes and we live in kind of a small town in a county that isnt exactly reptile friendly so it can be done.  just reassure them that the reptiles are in secured locked cages.  i called several places and a little less than 1/4 of them actually said that they would allow all our animals.  

the problem with not telling the landlord is that if then need to come in and do repairs or if they just come in the apartment to check things out (which good landlords will do on occasion) and you havent told them about the reptiles then you are dead in the water...not only do you have to move or get rid of your reptiles but then it goes against your renting history.

Answer 8

Use my example...I moved from a single in Echo Park, CA in to a two bedroom in San Gabriel, CA. By the time I was moving, my reptile collection had grown substantialy(1 savannah monitor, baby ball python, 2year old kingsnake, two geckos, a tree frog, veiled cham.) total of 7 tank(3 20 g and 1 29 gal plus other stuff) Luckily they accepted pets, dogs and cats included. We also had a cat and a gold fish so we disclosed that info, but didnt disclose the rest. We moved in at night as tosneek them in. The landlord now knows I have a plethora of reptiles. Point is, if they accept pets, you dont have to tell em you got the ball. Whos to say you didnt get it after the fact? Now if they dont allow pets, then you're in trouble. Again, they can't kick you out just because at the time when they asked you if u had a pet, u said no. Good luck