Encore Bonus: The Alligator in the Bathroom

This encore piece follows our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in the United States.

Evictions are never pleasant. This one was unforgettable. A Florida landlord arrived with paperwork and a locksmith, expecting a standard changeover. Instead, they found a six to seven-foot alligator relaxing in a hot tub inside the tenant’s home. The tenant later insisted the reptile was calm and well-behaved. The neighbours did not agree.

The discovery

Noise and unusual comings and goings had prompted complaints from next door. During attendance, the landlord opened a side room off the lounge and froze. An alligator lay half-submerged. The water was cloudy. A heat lamp had been rigged from a coat stand. The tenant appeared entirely unfazed, explaining that the gator was called Catfish.

The removal

Local officers called in wildlife specialists. The animal was safely restrained and transported away. No one was injured, though the scene drew a crowd and turned the street into an impromptu spectacle. Inside the property, floorboards were water-stained, and the skirting had swollen. A makeshift cable reel powered the heat lamp and a pump. The electrics were a worry.

What landlords can learn

• Take neighbour reports seriously. Repeated complaints usually signal a real issue that needs a prompt visit.
• Inspect external structures too. Sheds, garages and garden rooms are common places for concealed setups.
• Step back from wildlife. Do not attempt removal. Call professionals and keep a clear log of times and attendance.
• Record damage methodically. Photos, videos and contractor reports will help with deposit claims and recovery.

Your ideas for our next entertainment series

We are planning a fresh run of light-hearted articles for readers. Which themes would you most like us to research next? Please vote in the comments or suggest alternatives.

• Neighbour Nightmares – from fence lines to midnight parties
• Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails – the errors that still make your jaw drop
• Renovation Shockers – bodges and money pits uncovered mid refit
• Courtroom Dramas – unusual hearings and eyebrow-raising outcomes
• Good News Tenants – moments that restored your faith in people

Series so far

• The Tenant Who Kept a Tiger in a Harlem Apartment
• The Day a Cow Knocked at a Fourth Floor Flat
• When a Tenant Found a Python in the Toilet
• The Tenants Who Turned a Flat into a Miniature Zoo
• The Tenants Who Turned Their Rental Into a Roller Skating Rink
• The Tenants Who Built a Rollercoaster in the Back Garden
• The House With a Skatepark Inside
• Tenant Turns Garden into a Private Zoo

Background coverage: 10 Tampa Bay report.