However, it was not an unpleasant surprise: Fluffy is the tenant’s pet snake.
Mrs Dalton said it was not the first time she had come across a snake in her more than 10-year career in property management.
“While they are unusual, they do make good pets,” she said.
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READ NOW“They are compact and don’t require a lot of attention.”
Mrs Dalton said landlords did not need to feel squeamish about having a snake take up residence at their property – in fact, there were several advantages.
“When it comes to allowing pets, many landlords are worried about potential damage to the property, however this is extremely unlikely to occur with a snake,” she said.
“Plus, in most cases their food is kept in a freezer so is unlikely to attract vermin, they are not going to make noise and disturb neighbours, and they don’t need a lot of space.”
Mrs Dalton said in these cases tenants were still required to pay a pet bond and it was important to check they had the necessary licences. n