15 replies to this topic

[miksha]

How do you deal with this

 

[Phoenix]

I'm pretty most of them alone will be livid about the idea...

[rbarreto]

Does your lease say no pets? If so then its up to you whether or not you want to risk it. If you are allowed pets I doubt your lease specifically forbids ants so what your landlord doesn't know won't hurt them.

[Waganga]

I know I have the bias of being interested in/educated on this subject (antkeeping), but as a landlord myself, who the heck cares? Ants aren't very likely to damage my property. They're all around outside anyways, with surely finding their own ways inside. They're not really the kind of critter that destroys houses (except certain kinds of carpenter ants). Ants don't tear up carpet, dig into drywall, scratch flooring, destroy landscaping, etc (I'm looking at you, dogs). They don't pee on the carpet, or shed, or breed out of control when left unchecked (now I'm looking at you, cats). They're not a vector for disease (rodents/birds/reptiles/some exotics). Their tank isn't going to spring a leak and cause water damage (fish). There's just not a big threat there. Worst comes to worst, if for some reason there's a feral/wild ant colony set up in the house after a tenant moves, you exterminate just like any other pest problem that might arise like bed bugs, silverfish, fleas, etc. That kind of maintenance comes out of the tenant's regular deposit.

 

In the USA, since there are such strict laws about ant species even crossing state lines, I wouldn't be worried about an invasive species taking hold on the property either, if the keeper were to let them go.

 

I charge a $300 pet deposit for my tenants, but if it was something like ants, or really any insect pet, I don't even think I would charge a pet deposit. Insects are just not threatening pets from my perspective.

[Deluga]

My contract says no pets.

I asked them how about ants, and they told me that as long as they don't bother anybody it's not a problem.

Cats, dogs, bunnies and that sort of stuff is not allowed, however my neightbor has a cat lawl.

[Reacker]

Yeah Drew, does your landlord know that your apartment is an ant invasion disaster zone in the event of an earthquake

[dspdrew]

Yeah Drew, does your landlord know that your apartment is an ant invasion disaster zone in the event of an earthquake

 

All my stuff is earthquake proof. If an earthquake was large enough to knock my steel cabinets over, there will be much bigger problems to worry about.

[CNewton]

I think the whole "No Pets" is more about the larger, possible damage causing variety. My first apartment was "No pets", but I asked about a fish tank and almost got laughed out of the office. Fish don't count. Okay. As mentioned, unless you plan a massive operation, ants or insects in general probably won't pose a problem. Just don't be dressing a black cat with an extra set of limbs and parade it around as a "possible queen".

[rbarreto]

My previous landlord was 100% dead set against any and all pets. Some people view ants in an extremely negative way. My mom for example, would have preferred burning the house down then let me to keep ants as a kid. Some landlords may think the same way. I could also see it becoming a problem If you live in an apartment. The cost of eliminating a multi story colony is much higher than just a regular house I'd imagine.

I would say just keep ants anyways. If they do escape just claim you have no idea how they got there. No one is going to suspect you are an ant keeper.

[antsinmypants]

Well, if I was caught with them red-handed in my apartment, I might consider saying, "Yes, I have ants, but the problem is contained," as I point to them in their various test tubes and formicariums. If that doesn't work, then I'd immediately change my tune with, "Aren't you supposed to keep my apartment ant-free? Do you know how many hours I've spent studying them? I've had to buy equipment, research them on websites like www.formiculture.com, and keep feeder insects for them like crickets, meal worms and Dubia roaches?  I demand an immediate reduction in my rent to cover all my expenses, including Internet access!!!"

[T.C.]

Well, if I was caught with them red-handed in my apartment, I might consider saying, "Yes, I have ants, but the problem is contained," as I point to them in their various test tubes and formicariums. If that doesn't work, then I'd immediately change my tune with, "Aren't you supposed to keep my apartment ant-free? Do you know how many hours I've spent studying them? I've had to buy equipment, research them on websites like www.formiculture.com, and keep feeder insects for them like crickets, meal worms and Dubia roaches?  I demand an immediate reduction in my rent to cover all my expenses, including Internet access!!!"

 

And if I was your landlord, I would show you to the door.

[antsinmypants]

 

Well, if I was caught with them red-handed in my apartment, I might consider saying, "Yes, I have ants, but the problem is contained," as I point to them in their various test tubes and formicariums. If that doesn't work, then I'd immediately change my tune with, "Aren't you supposed to keep my apartment ant-free? Do you know how many hours I've spent studying them? I've had to buy equipment, research them on websites like www.formiculture.com, and keep feeder insects for them like crickets, meal worms and Dubia roaches?  I demand an immediate reduction in my rent to cover all my expenses, including Internet access!!!"

 

And if I was your landlord, I would show you to the door.

 

 

"Umm, could I take my ants with me, please?"

[T.C.]

 

 

Well, if I was caught with them red-handed in my apartment, I might consider saying, "Yes, I have ants, but the problem is contained," as I point to them in their various test tubes and formicariums. If that doesn't work, then I'd immediately change my tune with, "Aren't you supposed to keep my apartment ant-free? Do you know how many hours I've spent studying them? I've had to buy equipment, research them on websites like www.formiculture.com, and keep feeder insects for them like crickets, meal worms and Dubia roaches?  I demand an immediate reduction in my rent to cover all my expenses, including Internet access!!!"

 

And if I was your landlord, I would show you to the door.

 

 

"Umm, could I take my ants with me, please?"

 

After I hose the place down with raid.

[SummerChild]

Thank you for the laugh. I can see keeping amta will be a fun hobby for sure.

[Canadian anter]

Well you could always threaten releasing a few fire ant colonies just saying.
I wouldn't tell. I'd have to go through a ton of hassle explaining why Carpenter ants aren't going to destroy the place and other things like that.

[sgheaton]

Step 1: Buy a house

Step 2: Have the HOA tell you that you can't have a beehive 

Step 3: Raise ants instead

......

Step 5: Profit!