“Exposed Secrets: The Shocking Consequences of Hiding Pets from Landlords!”

"Exposed Secrets: The Shocking Consequences of Hiding Pets from Landlords!"

They got another dog who looked almost exactly like the first one. They walked the dogs in the neighborhood, so the neighbors knew there were two dogs. Our other tenant asked if the leases were updated to allow more than one dog because tenant 1 had two dogs now.

We asked tenant 1 if they had more than one dog. They denied it. We scheduled a home inspection and gave them the legally required notice (48 hours in our location). They hid the second dog evidence and they had the second dog off the property.

A few weeks later, we happened to be in the neighborhood and they were walking the dogs. We stopped to talk. I wasn’t pleased about the deception, but my husband was lenient and upped the rent and additional pet charge (they were smaller dogs).

The issue with tenants hiding pets is a few things:

1. If they are hiding pets, are they hiding other things/people.

2. The landlord needs to know the occupancy and about pets because if there is an accident or the pet causes damage to the property or bites someone, there are liability issues that the landlord can be brought into a legal situation.

3. Statistically, the more pets, the more chances of property damage/degradation and the need to replace/repair things.

My family has dogs/pets. We love pets, but we also know from decades of experience with renters that not all people think about how pets can affect property values.

anon Report

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Landlord here: I said, “keep this text. I’m not charging you a pet deposit for your sweet girlfriend’s wonderful dog and I’m not activating the $100/day unpermitted pet fee. The dog is great.” It was a great dog and a great tenant. He had no idea there was a “pets admitted on a case by case basis” in the lease he signed.

RosexKx Report

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As someone with non-conventional pets (currently rats, but I also like rabbits, pigeons, and ball pythons), it absolutely is worth it to me. Just know if you get caught, there’s no one to blame but yourself. It also helps that I do have a back-up plan and am very a**l about hiding absolutely everything when repairman comes around. If I do get caught, my pets are not going to end up in a shelter somewhere. Yes, it’s a hassle at the same time. 

Back when I got my rats and was looking for places, I did start out disclosing them. Quickly learned to shut up – one place quoted me the same $500 pet fee as dogs/cats – and that’s if they even allow non-dogs/cats in the first place. 

“3 pEt LiMiT and nOthIng over 50 pounds” – please, even for 6 rats living in a single cage? 

Part of the fire is also the stigma and ignorance. Yes you can have a phobia of rats and snakes and tarantulas, but what are the chances they are going to hop out the tank and attack you? It doesn’t make sense to me to allow dogs and cats to walk all over the carpet and shed everywhere and bark at 6am and spray in corners and chew on walls, and then turn around and say that a hamster or gecko is going to cause just as much damage. 

I understand both sides. It takes just one bad pet owner to let their pet go wild, and ruin it for everyone else. But it’s been such a headache to find apartments with what I’ve got that this is the choice I’ve made. I can’t afford a house man. .

Brave_Spray_6390 Report

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Got caught when I got a 2nd cat. Manager said I could keep him as long as nobody complained. I moved about 6 months later.

DancesWithElectrons Report

First, don’t do this. It isn’t worth the hassle and when your landlord does find out you’ll be in a real bind. Unless you intend to be homeless, you’ll have to move overnight or give up your pet. You’ll also be on the hook for big $ cleaning fees in addition to losing your deposit.

I haven’t specifically defied my lease and owned an “under the table” pet. I did used to bring my dog to my girlfriend’s apartment quite often. Dogs were allowed, she had her own dog, we kept things very discreet and never bothered other tenants whatsoever.

The landlord still caught wind and basically said “never again or get evicted.” We never considered that the maintenance guy had to come through eventually and it’s unfortunately his job to deal with the mess if an unaccounted pet destroys the place, so it’s gonna be reported. You’d also be surprised how much your neighbors will snoop and report anything they don’t like. People love rules and hate to see others pulling a fast one to earn an advantage they don’t get.

Own_Shallot7926 Report

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I typically own two cats at a time, only one is ever on the lease. Without fail, I always find a duo where one is a window sitter and one is very much not. Now I have one kitty and I tried hiding her because she’s never been a window sitter. Apparently she likes window sitting now that her brother is gone. She was also extremely unfriendly before he died but loves guests now. The landlord met her on accident. Between “she’s 16 and never peed outside the litter box” and “idk what’s going on, she normally loathes guests” while shes rubbing all over him, he had no issue with her.

lizzyote Report

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Put our cat in the bathroom while the landlord came over and she somehow got out and was sitting on the top of the couch directly in front of the door, thankfully landlord found it funny and said she didn’t care bc it wasn’t her rules.

Unus_Annus2020 Report

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In Ontario Canada landlords can refuse to rent to a new tenant with pets. But as soon as a tenant has moved in there is nothing a landlord can do to stop the tenant from getting pets.

shank9779 Report

Nothing happened at all because he found out by sneaking into my flat when I wasn’t home, so he then couldn’t reveal he knew I had a pet without also admitting he was trespassing. Moved out a few months later with no consequences of any kind.

gazgt Report

Landlord (of half a duplex) here. Tenant adopted a dog without letting me know. He was 6 weeks behind on rent, so I told him that it was unacceptable to adopt a dog if he was behind. I used this as a catalyst to take him to court for eviction. He died before the court date and it turned out he stole the dog from his ex. She broke into his side of the house to steal the dog after he died. His son subsequently looted the house of anything of value and refused to pay any back rent or subsequent rents of the lease he was supposed to be the successor of. I cleaned the apartment of dead man furniture and dog s**t for about 16 hours straight the following weekend, and rerented it in time for the next month. Horrible.

On another note, my current tenant had a surprise lizard and ferret, but he pays on time and is generally respectful so its all good.

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