Do I have to compensate tenant to relocate pets while tenting?

[Sonorov]

What is the name of your state?
CA



I was going to have a house I own tented for termites next month. I of course planned on paying for my tenants hotel and other expenses during that time. I just found out my tenant has a crap ton of snakes and other various reptiles. Like every wall is lined with tanks and rows of them in the living room.

He’s expecting to being compensated for having to move and find a place to store all his pets. The reptile boarding places nearby show it would cost around $25-50 per animal depending on its size, which based on how many he has will probably add up quickly to a lot.

The lease I have with him states that tank animals are okay, although I definitely think this is overboard and I don’t want to have to pay for him to board them all. Is this something I would be required to compensate him for?

This guys lease happens to be up in December. He had expressed interest in renewing the lease and I was going to, but now I’m thinking since the termite fumigation is not urgent it might be better for me to not renew his lease and wait to have the place tented once he’s gone.

 

[adjusterjack]

now I’m thinking since the termite fumigation is not urgent it might be better for me to not renew his lease and wait to have the place tented once he’s gone.

Good thinking.

But you'd better carefully study CA's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 to make sure you get the non-renewal right.

Landlord-Tenant Issues | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

 

[STEPHAN]

What does your lease say regarding pets?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state?
CA
... This guys lease happens to be up in December. He had expressed interest in renewing the lease and I was going to, but now I’m thinking since the termite fumigation is not urgent it might be better for me to not renew his lease and wait to have the place tented once he’s gone.

Waiting for the lease to expire before tenting your house sounds like a good plan.

 

[xylene]

Subject to your laws... in the future collect a progressive per pet lease and monthly fee to make it clear you don't rent to animal hoarders. Get a lawyer to review them.

 

[quincy]

Subject to your laws... in the future collect a progressive per pet lease and monthly fee to make it clear you don't rent to animal hoarders. Get a lawyer to review them.

That’s what we use for our rentals - a pet addendum to the lease which requires a deposit per pet and a monthly pet fee. The type of pet(s) also must be approved in advance.

Because Sonorov permitted his tenants to have pets, he should be responsible for relocating both the tenants and their pets. The cost of doing so probably makes waiting for leases to expire the financially best move.

 

[AlmostThere]

More out of curiosity, are there any legal limits on exotic pet ownership?

 

[Zigner]

More out of curiosity, are there any legal limits on exotic pet ownership?

There might be on the city/county level, but those limits often refer to "dangerous" animals. Non-venomous snakes (or "other reptiles") are, arguably, not "dangerous".

 

[quincy]

More out of curiosity, are there any legal limits on exotic pet ownership?

Here are California’s laws on exotic pet ownership:

https://www.animallaw.info/administrative/california-exotic-pets-§-671-importation-transportation-and-possession-live

Landlords can restrict or prohibit any or all pets.

 

[Zigner]

Here are California’s laws on exotic pet ownership:

https://www.animallaw.info/administrative/california-exotic-pets-§-671-importation-transportation-and-possession-live

Landlords can restrict or prohibit any or all pets.

The only snakes on that list are venomous snakes. As I mentioned before, local municipalities may have further restrictions.

 

[quincy]

The only snakes on that list are venomous snakes. As I mentioned before, local municipalities may have further restrictions.

True. And, again, the landlord can restrict the ownership of a specific animal (or the number of animals allowed) even if no law prevents the ownership of that animal. The only exception would come with service animals.