Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Earlier this year I had to make a claim on my home owners insurance. When the adjuster came out I decided I was not going to let him in the snake room but did not think the rat room would be a problem. (I keep a small colony of 8 breeding groups that consist of 1.3 adults and a varying amount of young one’s the total probably never exceeds 100 and is usually more like 50) When the adjuster saw the rats he asked a few questions but did not make much of a deal about it and continued to investigate the source of the claim. So after he left I thought every thing went good and waited to hear about my claim. Well a couple weeks later I get a notice that the insurance company will not renew my policy due to the rats and not only that but they refused the claim which had nothing to do with the rats (I had mold in my attic) They did however say that if I signed a letter saying I got rid of the rats and provided pics of the room showing they were gone they would renew my policy. Now I can’t just say their gone and not really get rid of them because if something were to happen like say I had a fire and they then found evidence of the rats they could refuse the resulting claim because I lied. I also can’t just go get a new policy from another company because the new company would contact the first one and then they to would know of the rats. My insurance broker who I know and trust (he has advised me not to say anything about the snakes) has tried to find me another company but has not been able to find any that accepts rats. So my reason for this post is to 1. Warn any home owners with larger reptile collection and or rats of the possible consequences if you’re “dirty little” secret is found out and 2. To ask if anyone has had the same problem and if so what did you do.
I don’t want to get rid of the rats, I don’t know that I could afford to fed my collection without raising my own rats and I like knowing the rats my snakes eat are getting a quality food not to mention its more convenient especially for the few snakes that won’t eat frozen thawed. To all who took the time to read this long post thank you. This is something that could affect anyone who chooses to keep pets that society as a whole does not accept or fears it’s not right but that’s the way it is. Any advice that does not require guns or bombs would greatly appreciated Thanks again Steve M.

I had the same problem but I asked correctly, like; "I was thinking of moving part of my business out of my partners shop and wondered if". Didn't work they said something similar to what you got. However they said they could do a business insurance on the reptiles. Neither are on the insurance and the rats are in the shed. So in a way I lied to. Hope someone else has a better story.
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

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Buy an outbuilding for your backyard and move the rodents into it. This would get them out of the house, avoid having to pay for frozen feeders/petshop feeders etc and allow the insurance company to have their way without you losing yours. Good luck.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Hey man I realy appreciate the heads up. Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Ive never owned a home but Ill definately keep this in mind. Thanks.
Brendan

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Without INTEGRITY and HONESTY what else have you!
Brendan Saffron

Sorry to hear about that because I know that rats can get expensive. I hate insurance companies especially after the way they did the Katrina victims. Whats the logic in dropping you because you raise rats in your house, it is still your house and if some how your rats could damage anything in your house they should just make you liable for it. This is just some more BS that we have to live with for the moment.

Marcus Williams

Me and my girl just bought our first home last summer and when we were getting quotes from insurance "jerks" We asked about our snakes and the feeders for them and they told us they had no problems with it however any damage we claimed that was the result of rodents or snakes that they would not cover also that they would not cover the theft of our boas but would cover the loss of any equipment as long as it was a hobby and not a business. I personally would not have told them I had boas or anything but my girl was not thinking when she asked.

That really sucks about your claim and them dropping you, I would try to prove that the mold is not the result of the rats and maybe move them to an out building like a shed or something. Did they take pictures of your rats? if they did not then I would get rid of most of them and ask why you can not have pet rats like allot of people do. Good luck

-Dylan
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True Redtails