Apartment search with exotic animals

[AlynnBity]

I am actively looking for a new apartment and I face some obstacles in the way, which affects apartments here in Germany.
It's hard to find an apartment where the usual animals (cats, dogs, birds) are tolerated or even welcome. But it gets really hard when you have exotic animals, like tarantulas.
I hate dishonesty, but as soon as you talk about certain animals, you are immediately rejected.
It annoys me that landlords are allowed to make such a massive invasion of privacy. These people don't even have any idea about the animals and no good reason or reasonable argument why they don't allow them.

I would like to know how this is done in your countries and, if someone is from Germany, whether you mentioned the animals during the visit or not.

I don't want to get in trouble afterwards, but I don't want to be restricted in my personal freedom. And I would never give away my pets just to get an apartment! I prefer to search until I find one in which they are tolerated.
People are still so far from tolerance and allowing things outside the norm. And this in the current time! Dreadful...

 

[Demonclaws]

Make sure the contract says pet allowed. Once both parties sign it you should be good for the duration of the contract. Don't talk about it unless the your landlord asks you.

Or you can go the political route and start a campaign on discrimination of exotic pet owners. Make sure to talk about your feelings a lot.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I've never had this problem or a similar issue because I've never rent an house/apartment in my own life, but from what I know here in Italy isn't big deal because the average landlord doesn't even realize that people keeps arachnids and whatnot, therefore on the contract 'paper/s' they are almost never mentioned.

Granted, the rule is "just keep your damn mouth shut", anyway, because I assume they will freak out in no time, badly

In general, anyway, the huge majority of Italian landlords (btw I freaking hate this term, landlord) are pretty much tolerant, here, around cats, dogs, parrots etc I know because my parents had to deal with that in the past, until the point that they were fed up and stopped to rent their extra homes, but not for the animals, uh.

The problem are (certain) persons, not their animals.

Another perfect 'escamotage' <-- escamotage - is to keep only hardcore obligate burrower, in sum where everything people can see is only a hole in the middle of a no man's land of substrate, and if the landlord say something about just tell that this is a new eco-environmental friendly, Al Gore style liberal experiment for save the environment

 

[TownesVanZandt]

Most contracts for rental apartments here in Norway also have a clause that says "no pets allowed", but it shouldn´t be a problem with tarantulas. I think the owners of the apartments are mostly afraid of dogs leaving marks on the floors etc.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Most contracts for rental apartments here in Norway also have a clause that says "no pets allowed", but it shouldn´t be a problem with tarantulas. I think the owners of the apartments are mostly afraid of dogs leaving marks on the floors etc.

True, my man

No landlord - no matter the latitude - is concerned about a mass escape of B.dubia and/or other roaches, but those little werewolves called dogs, uhm... scratching everything

I hate dishonesty

No, don't!

I wish that Germans could learn a bit of Italian style -- life's better when 'laws' turns into 'suggestions'

 

[AnObeseHippo]

I wouldn’t mention my Ts to a landlord. They’re much more like a plant than a pet. It’d just be causing trouble where there doesn’t need to be trouble.

 

[TownesVanZandt]

True, my man

No landlord - no matter the latitude - is concerned about a mass escape of B.dubia and/or other roaches, but those little werewolves called dogs, uhm... scratching everything

Landlords aren´t allowed to enter a rented-out flat so they would have no idea how they got there

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Landlords aren´t allowed to enter a rented-out flat so they would have no idea how they got there

Yes, even here, but what when/if something happens and the landlord needs to check, like when something break up (something that the landlord need to fix/replace) or else?

That's here when my "obligate burrowers only" 'escamotage' could work

 

[Sinned]

Ask if you are allowed to keep a goldfish, if so. /done, you can keep a T.

Dogs and cats are another matter. Very able to cause issue's with your neighbors ... dogs barking at every passing car or just for whatever reason (scratching up the floors, I didn't even think off, but also true), cats doing their business in potted plants by jumping to a neighbors balcony. Landlords do not want to deal with these complaints.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Ask if you are allowed to keep a goldfish, if so. /done, you can keep a T.

This isn't comparable, my man. A (quite annoying, with all the respect and etc) C.auratus living in a sorta of poor mans 'clairvoyant' glass ball isn't nowhere near arachnids.

I was joking, before, when I've mentioned B.dubia and roaches, but I'm (almost ) always serious even when I joke: no landlord (unless said landlord is 1) another keeper, therefore he/she can understand 2) a man/woman that seriously give a damn, and care only about cash) would like that.

Here, when this issue is discussed, there's not only the arachnids 'per se' to consider (which btw are a stand alone issue, since spiders aren't exactly the most loved pets) but the feeders. Live, obviously, inverts as well.

There's an helluva of people that basically hate more roaches first, then spiders, let alone worms etc

So, my advice, 'dishonesty' or not, is say nothing <-- mouth shut Smilies

 

[Storm76]

Since you're from Germany, too:

Tarantulas over here fall under the same laws, like mice, hamsters and the like do: Animals like these do not have to be explicitly allowed for you in order to keep them. For example, my own landlord knows I do have a number of terrariums, but he never inquired what's in them either, nor said anything negative towards that.

The bottom line here is, depending on the number of animals we're talking about here, I wouldn't fret over that subject too much.

 

[draconisj4]

My current landlord is a veterinarian, he knows about my inverts and is fine with them though I didn't tell him about the 3 bins of roaches, lol.

Personally, if I were looking for a new place I wouldn't mention the inverts. I moved several times during the 20 years I had my boa and never told my landlords. I just covered the cage if they needed to come over and I never had any problems.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I just covered the cage if they needed to come over and I never had any problems.

What's inside that?

Mah... nothing, just old toys

 

[draconisj4]

What's inside that?

Mah... nothing, just old toys

I had a couple of landlords give the covered cage some funny looks but not one ever asked me about it. The boa was almost 11 feet so the cage was pretty big, lol.

 

[boina]

@Storm76 already covered the main point: In Germany your landlord has no say in what caged animals you can keep. If you don't tell him beforehand he can't reject you - and you can still keep your tarantulas and he has no way to throw you out for it later on if he ever finds out, because it's perfectly legal to keep as many caged pets as you want. By now I own the house I'm living in, but I've always kept pets of all kinds in the appartments I've rented before and it never was a problem. Good thing in Germany is, you don't even have to worry about some londlord wanting to spray your appartment for pests.

 

[Razzledazzy]

Since the main part of this post has been covered, here's what I do since I don't really know the ins and outs of my local law well.

I usually ask if 'desk pets' like fish are allowed, and if they say I can keep fish, then I can keep a tarantula, a snake, or even something like an axolotl. No one's said no to letting me keep fish yet

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I am actively looking for a new apartment and I face some obstacles in the way, which affects apartments here in Germany.
It's hard to find an apartment where the usual animals (cats, dogs, birds) are tolerated or even welcome. But it gets really hard when you have exotic animals, like tarantulas.
I hate dishonesty, but as soon as you talk about certain animals, you are immediately rejected.
It annoys me that landlords are allowed to make such a massive invasion of privacy. These people don't even have any idea about the animals and no good reason or reasonable argument why they don't allow them.

I would like to know how this is done in your countries and, if someone is from Germany, whether you mentioned the animals during the visit or not.

I don't want to get in trouble afterwards, but I don't want to be restricted in my personal freedom. And I would never give away my pets just to get an apartment! I prefer to search until I find one in which they are tolerated.
People are still so far from tolerance and allowing things outside the norm. And this in the current time! Dreadful...

Should we name land lords , serf or feudal lords. Cost of living is often higher then a house and with many living restrictions. Exotics are harmless, except deadly snakes etc.
I’ve seen people build false shelves to hide exotics. You could even go so far as to call employers feudal lords , or a old controversial term slave masters. We’re I live 70-90% of new jobs created pay a non living wage. You don’t earna living good luck affording rent.

Sorry about your situation try and find your own house.

 

[Greasylake]

I’ve seen people build false shelves to hide exotics

Can you imagine having one of those rotating bookshelves that spin when you pull a book out and hiding your spider room behind it? That would be a dream come true, but I have a feeling most apartments have a pretty solid rule against making secret rooms.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Can you imagine having one of those rotating bookshelves that spin when you pull a book out and hiding your spider room behind it? That would be a dream come true, but I have a feeling most apartments have a pretty solid rule against making secret rooms.

For what those cost cheaper to buy a place , they mostly in movies. Cost a lot to make I bet. Prob a few grand to build a rotating massive bookshelves.
Would be a nice space saver tho , and extra T storage in a house .
We’re I live it’s cheaper to buy then to rent usually, well property tax is unconstitutional but they still take it . Our taxes are authoritarian fascism like ww2 Germany obey or , military police come in . Dono if Europe has same thing . mega Corporations don’t even pay taxes consumers do.
Still not as bad as ussr tho , despite these unconstitutional laws like income taxes. Poor bolsheviks revolution , that’s what Happens when wacko crazies run a government.
Ha ha sorry Any republic can easily become a tyranny. Democacy doesn’t exist anywhere that’s all propaganda.

 

[AlynnBity]

Thanks for all your answers.
Then in the future I will only mention that I would like to have cats again. I can't just cover them with a cloth, should the landlord get the idea to pay me a visit.

The problem are (certain) persons, not their animals.

You are absolutely right! Not only when it comes to animals. Also in other areas you get cancellations, because people left a bad impression. That's why yesterday I was denied a really nice apartment. That good people are denied because of the bad people ... that makes me totally angry!

I wish that Germans could learn a bit of Italian style -- life's better when 'laws' turns into 'suggestions'

I know what you mean, but that doesn't match my morals and principles. This has less to do with us Germans than with every single person.
But for things that I find ridiculous or illogical, I make exceptions too.

Yes, even here, but what when/if something happens and the landlord needs to check, like when something break up (something that the landlord need to fix/replace) or else?

That's here when my "obligate burrowers only" 'escamotage' could work

In the last 6 years I have never had the case that the landlords had to get in my apartment without my permission or presence (and I hope that will never happen). So far, I haven't had an apartment from private landlords, but from housing associations. Better than that isn't possible

Dogs and cats are another matter. Very able to cause issue's with your neighbors ... dogs barking at every passing car or just for whatever reason (scratching up the floors, I didn't even think off, but also true), cats doing their business in potted plants by jumping to a neighbors balcony. Landlords do not want to deal with these complaints.

Cats and dogs doing this stuff weren't brought up and/or kept completely wrong.

Since you're from Germany, too:

Tarantulas over here fall under the same laws, like mice, hamsters and the like do: Animals like these do not have to be explicitly allowed for you in order to keep them. For example, my own landlord knows I do have a number of terrariums, but he never inquired what's in them either, nor said anything negative towards that.

The bottom line here is, depending on the number of animals we're talking about here, I wouldn't fret over that subject too much.

I've read other things, but roughly said you could pass that. I just don't know anyone who hasn't asked what's inside the terrarium.
And I have read a lot in other (German) forums, where others also had problems with apartment search, because of their tarantulas. What I read there ... I didn't want to believe my eyes! Neighbors felt threatened by the spiders ... by the spiders standing in the closed terrarium in the closed apartment. Neighbors who had nothing to do with the person. This missing logic of reasoning!

Sorry about your situation try and find your own house.

That would be nice, but I would have to win a few million in the lottery.