Myth Check: Keeping small pets in a rental apartment
We take common real estate and housing myths under the microscope and show you what’s actually true.
Myth: “Keeping small pets in cages, aquariums or terrariums is always allowed in a rental apartment and does not require the landlord’s permission.”
❌ That’s not true.
It depends on the type of pet. Generally harmless small animals, such as a hamster in a cage, ornamental fish in an aquarium or geckos in a terrarium, can usually be kept without the landlord’s permission, provided the number of animals remains reasonable and neighbours are not disturbed by noise or odours.
The situation is different when it comes to potentially dangerous animals, such as venomous snakes, scorpions or venomous spiders. These are not typically considered small pets that landlords are expected to tolerate, as they may pose a significant risk. If such an animal escapes from its enclosure, it could endanger other residents in the building.
A well-known example occurred in 2019 in the German city of Herne, where a highly venomous cobra escaped from a private terrarium. A neighbour discovered the snake in the building’s hallway. As a precaution, authorities evacuated the entire apartment building until a specialist managed to locate and capture the cobra in the basement after several days of searching.
If you want to keep this type of animal, you should always obtain your landlord’s explicit consent, even if your tenancy agreement does not contain any provisions regarding pets.
Regardless of this, keeping potentially dangerous animals in Switzerland requires official authorisation (Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance). Cantonal veterinary authorities assess factors such as the keeper’s expertise, the safety of the enclosure and the animal’s living conditions. Depending on the canton, they may also require written consent from the landlord.
