Q: Can a landlord fine/evict me for a pet they said was ok, but now are saying is not ok?
I have 3 lizards in my townhome. All are in aquarium tanks and do not go out of them. I informed the landlord of the first one prior to moving in and she said over the phone "As long as it is not a cat or dog and is in a tank, you do not need to fill out a pet form." She even came by and saw the lizard and another lizard I had gotten and said they were cool about 2 months after I moved in.
Multiple inspections with photos and 2 years go by and she suddenly sends and email saying that my pet lizards are not approved. I tell her that she had seen and approved the pets verbally multiple times after I had moved in and she wants to ignore that part entirely. Is she allowed to fine/evict me for this or is this grounds for a lawsuit as it is causing me unnecessary stress rehoming my animals and potentially myself?
A: Your lease controls the relationship. Does it address pets? Does it allow for the landlord to impose a fee for a pet violation?
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