Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Partially venting here, and partially asking at the same time.

I'm in the market for a new apartment and so many places will accept dogs and cats, but not reptiles.

This really irks me, and I've yet to hear a reasoning to back this up.

Anyone got any insight/opinions on this? Is there something I'm missing?

Xian

Theyre used to the horror stories of huge free roaming snakes and lizards that always seem to escape and eat the neighbors cat or small dog.

Just say, "hey, Ive got a few lizards in aquariums, do you guys need a pet deposit??" Dont even ask if they accept reptiles. When you start asking a bunch of questions like youre concerned, then they get concerned. Just downplay the reptile thing, and act nonchalant.

Its worked for me. (and Ive got 8' x 5' cages)

for an eviction and or law suit. I've been on several local eviction trails concerning reptiles/exotics and on the receiving end of just that myself. If it is in the contract or policy,you are in the wrong no matter how much you try to downplay. The problem is, if in the wrong, what are you going to tell the apartment complex when they make an appearence to :
#1...spray for bugs
#2...fix something in the apartment
#3...see you no differant then a pet keeper and ask for a deposit on the animals even if they are considered " contained " or caged like a bird/fish. ( in most citys/states they ( apartments/condos ) try to get a deposit and a monthly fee for your pets which is double jeopardy and in most places illegal ).
It is all of what the other poster said but it doesn't take all of that even for a place to not want reptiles in. Just for thjat fact that the other tenents are not " savy " or educated ! Then when you think you are right in your thoughts about no harm done, try my situation of the complex getting word out accidently that I was keeping herps and it was causing a loss of leashing tenents. THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE you if you are caught keeping herps against the complex rules. AND if you are in violation, you can be sued for the remaining lease agreement if you chose not to live there being caught with herps. So either you stay there and get rid of your reptiles, or you move, or you get evicted. FYI.........it doesn't have to be the sole purpose of keeping reptiles, it can also be against the rules for keeping feed animals for your reptiles in crickets and rodents. I was on a trial that it was't the reptiles but the feed animals for the reptiles in violation and the person lost because they didn't want to give up their chameleons.

More ?

Chambo

I think one (possible) mistake I made was this:

In some cases, the forms and such say "Pets Allowed". However, I had said "do you allow reptiles?", to which, they replied "no, not reptiles".

In some situations, they only specify "no reptiles" if you ask. In theory then, this would be a loop-hole, as the paperwork simply says "Pets allowed" and may have exceptions/restrictions for pets (usually dogs) over 25lbs, but does not specify anything about Herps/Amphibians/rodents/etc.

Dare I say, I could use that to my advantage? Or perhaps just go the route of paying the $100-200 pet deposit and the extra $15-50/mo they tack on to the rent, without specifiying what type of pets? (Or only specifiying the cats only, and claim to have gotten the herps later/pleading ignorance/something...else).

Again, I'm not going to live in a place the explictly says "NO REPTILES" with my herps, but maybe go with a "don't ask, don't tell" about the herps and only offer up the info on the cats.

I found this out in certain citys under owner-tenant laws. At least when i had a scenario to do so. it just might have changed now though because it HAS been some years. The reason so many places got/get away with it is the flux of people that paid/pay this never, ever brought it to a challenge. Then there is the challenge of CAGED animals or contained animals. I'm sure we all agree that what diffence shpuld there be in a , say, parakeet, canary, tropical fish and not getting charged a pet deposit. they are contained pets. Isn't most reptiles ? But we are back to public ignorance. An apartment, condo , and even more horrified, a housing or home community can band together to get you out. Some months or some years ago several famous reptile breeders was looking at having to leave their houses, breeder facilities becasue of home assoiciation rules/policies. On one in particular, it even went to court and the person lost to the home association. Now that is a bunch of B.S. when you are forced to have to move, sell your home, or get rid of your animals in order to stay.
The best recourse and all that know me on these forums knows that I will NEVER EVER live in a city limit again or ever rent an apartment, house where they do not want reptiles/ animals there.

Chambo ( the fact and number guy )

ah, now i understand more what you are saying.

if there was a "lack of city limits" to live in, in this area, I would...but alas, this area is a bit lacking in privacy of that nature.

By simply saying "Ive got a few reptiles in cages, is there a pet deposit?" is enough to get you in the door, if they allow reptiles in the first place. The rest is silly. Dont take your animals and flaunt them around, scaring people. Learn how to fix your own leaky facets, and dont let your feeders escape. Pretty simple.
Ive had HUGE monitors and snakes for years here in my rented apartment. The manager comes here on occasion, because we are friends, and he has actually begun to take a fancy to my animals. However, my apartment is IMMACULATE, and I am clearly a responsible pet owner.

You are lucky that you have not had problems. A lot of apartments are owned by non-living on premisis people/companies. It is getting harder and harder to find apartments and other communty living places that allows reptiles. Just because one might live in immaculant and clean place doesn't mean that there is not a routine inspection for insects and or certain updates of electrical appliances/repairs. The oringinal post or thread was keeping reptiles secretly or keeping reptiles against policies/contracts/rules in apartments. I have found out in all of my transfer years where i had to rent off and on that rental homes are by far a lot safer for keeping reptiles and rental owners of houses are a lot more understanding in the fact. I don't know where a lot of you all live, but almost all of my have to rent houses were at the same and or below cost of renting apartments. Out of 8 rent apartments/duplexes, I had problems with 6 on keeping reptiles compared to NO problems out of 6 rental houses.

Chambo