Landlord won't allow chickens, I need to do it Undercover!!!

[Portia]

I do agree with those above that caution you against your plan to get chickens when your landlord is against it.

If you do follow through with your plans, think about the message it is sending to your son about rules. You seem to have created a very nice set up in MI, why not start with the garden and show your landlord what you are about and how you take care of things...as mentioned by others. Also, introduce him/her to the sustainable lifestyle and slowly usher in the idea of a few chickens as you build rapport.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Welcome back to Tennessee, and I'm sure we're all rejoicing with you over having a YARD again after your exile in an apartment. And certainly you've got "the jones" to keep chickens again, we all feel your strain. But we all also know what a wonderful asset chickens can be, so that instead of having to sneak them in you should be able to eventually convince your landlord that life isn't worth living without at least a few feathered friends pecking in the yard.

Introduce your landlord to this forum, get him a Golden Feather membership for the holidays, we'll help you convince him!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Your post made it sound like NOW, not sometime in the future. And you definitely said you were plannign to hide them, not try to work out an accomodation with the landlord. Sorry you didn't like the answers, but you'll notice that almost all of us gave pretty much the same answer.

 

[agnes_day]

my husband is so bad like that..he will ask my opinion and then get huffy if he doesnt like the answer.

 

[Cornychick]

I can sympothize with you. I say get settled in over the holidays and when spring comes around, and you have given your landlord a good impression then bring it up. Two small confined chickens are way different than multiple dogs wearing down a yard. Especially if you are gardening and taking pride in your property.

 

[fowltemptress]

I'm sorry, I know how renting is. We snuck chickens in, knowing if we asked permission he'd just say no. Our plan was to keep the chickens until he noticed and ordered them gone, at which point I would move with the chickens to my mother's house and wait until my SO finished classes, got a job, and bought a home in a chicken friendly neighborhood. That may sound extreme, but I found that living without fowl sent me into a depression that I couldn't handle, and I refuse to do without for any reason, for the sake of my mental health. Luckily, our landlord never noticed, and I had 10. I have a hard time thinking it would be difficult to hide two.

 

[Jody]

Your landlord is more than likely worried about any liability issues.

In order to alleviate any concerns he may have, research any ordinances and laws which are favorable to you owning chickens in that specific community so that you may show the landlord that there are no legal repercussions that would fall upon him. Check your zoning laws as well to ascertain there are no prohibitions, etc and copy the documents proving so.

Further, a conceivable concern he or she may have is the issue of complaints from neighbors. It would be wise to consult with neighbors and get input from them so that you may assure them that their peace will not be compromised by your ownership of chickens. If at all possible, get names and phone numbers and assure your landlord that it's ok with the neighbors and that there will be no complaints. Also, assure him that there will be no roosters.

Last, landlords tend to be concerned about property damages and decrease of property value. Get photographs of some great coops of a similar size/type of which you intend on building/buying to address his concerns on how a coop may detract from his property.. (ie: no eyesores.. no decrease of value, etc..).. Certainly with a garden and a coop, etc it may actually make it more pleasant looking. A motivational factor in gaining his or her acceptance is MONEY. Offer an additional security deposit to relieve him of any worries in regard to being left with unpaid damages in the event damage occurs, etc.. (This legally is to be returned to you with interest when you move out so long as everything is the same as when you moved in.)

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
As a LandLady myself I agree with Jody. I urge you to be open with yours. Chances are if your LL has had troble tenneats in the past he probablly was careful in choosing you. Which means he already sort of trusts you. If you present it in the way Jody suggested while offering an extra deposit he may suprise you by saying yes. Good luck!.

 

[twentynine]

My advice is to follow the rules you agreed to when you signed your lease/rental agreement. I think keeping chickens/pets would be reason for the landlord to evict you. Talk about needing to find a new place is easier said than done. Doing it under that kind of pressure wouldn't be nice.

Only two chickens, that's all you want. Does the landlord have other rental property. What if the other tenants decide they want ferrets, shetland ponies, possums or alligators? First thing they are going to do is point at your chickens.

You asked---we answered. We all like our chickens, but not everybody out there likes chickens the way we do.

 

[thechickenchick]

I have to say, if you were my tenant and you signed a lease then chose to go behind my back and break that contract I would ask you to remove the animals immediately or you will be asked to leave. The notice period is different from state to state. It can be anywhere from 30 days to 72 hours, depending on the infraction.

We have a home in another town as a rental. We put over 11 thousand dollars worth of paint and carpet in it. Our contract reads no pets. However the perfect renters came along. It has to be someone we trust as we are not there to watch over them or the property. They have dogs and asked our permission and offered us a large pet deposit. We laid down some rules, such as the dogs are allowed in the garage in the winter but not in the house. If the neighbors complain about the noise they will have to get rid of them, etc.... Their check is always on time, the funds are always there, they ask permission for everything and keep things very clean and presentable. The property is for sale so the realtor inspects and shows the house a few times a month. The tenants are very good about this. Good tenants are almost impossible to find. So if we (LandLadys or Lords) find one we will do alot to keep them! So I say, try honesty and show him you are worth it.

Good luck.