4 ways to talk your landlord into letting you have a pet
- Create a pet resume: Document your pet's health records (and training for a dog)
- Building a relationship with a landlord or management company is another approach
- Service dogs must be allowed, but only when vouched for by a qualified health professional
Even buildings that say they are pet-friendly can have a lot of restrictions.
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New York City is one of the most pet-friendly cities in the nation, but not every landlord is going to welcome your furry (or feathered) friend.
If you’re a pet owner on the hunt for a new rental, or a tenant who wants to bring home a new pet, there are a few strategies you can use to persuade a landlord to give you the green light, such as preparing a "resume" to document your dog's health and training.
A recent survey finds that nearly three-quarters of NYC rental listings say they are pet friendly, but that doesn't mean all pets are welcome. For example, some buildings do not allow pets in common areas. Others exclude large dogs, ban or certain breeds, or limit pets to only cats.
These restrictions mean it can still be difficult to find a pet-friendly rental—or to convince your current landlord to approve the four-legged roommate you want to adopt.
[Editor's note: An earlier version of this post was published in July 2023. We are presenting it again with updated information for July 2024.]
Landlords are often concerned about the extra wear and tear that comes from having a dog or cat, so it can be helpful to address those concerns from the outset. For example, you can explain that you plan to crate-train your dog instead of letting her roam the apartment at all hours, especially when you’re gone (read: no frantic dog scratching on the door).
But keep in mind, landlords are not supposed to ask for a larger deposit to approve your pet. Changes to the rent laws in 2019 prevent landlords from collecting more than one month’s rent for a security deposit—making “pet fees” illegal.
Read on for four tactics you can try to get your landlord to welcome your pet
1. Document your pet's health and training record
Pet approval depends on the animal and the applicant. For instance, if you have sparkling references, stellar credit, and a small, well-behaved dog, you might have an easier shot at landing the apartment.
Putting together a pet resume—with a reference letter, health history, training certificates, and photos—can help prove you’re a responsible pet owner, and indicate that you take your landlord’s concerns seriously. It’s also important to have a letter from your vet saying your dog (or cat) is up to date on vaccines, especially the rabies vaccine, required under city law.
It’s not uncommon for hopeful tenants to fudge the weight of their dog. Obviously, you can't say your Great Dane weighs what a Corgi does, or the landlord will call your bluff. But neither are they likely to begrudge a few pounds.
2. Build a solid relationship with your landlord or management company
Nothing gets you more bonus points than actual camaraderie with your landlord. This is more likely to happen in a small building but the same principle works for landlords with larger portfolios.
Jane Katz, an agent at Coldwell Banker Warburg, recalled finding a rental for a family with four dogs on the Upper East Side. She thought the landlord showed flexibility because they had previously lived in other buildings under the same ownership.
If you've been living in a non-pet building and decide it’s time to get a pet, your best course of action is to be honest about your desire for a pet. If you’ve been a good tenant—you pay your rent on time and look after the place—your landlord is more likely to bend the rules.
“Honesty is the best policy,” said Kimberly Jay, a broker at Compass. “In a nice way, ask your landlord. I really think it’s that simple,” she says.
Or if you can swing it, looking in the slower winter months for a pet-friendly building. The market often determines how selective a landlord can be.
3. Exercise your rights using the three-month rule
Having a pet in your building without approval can be stressful and puts you at risk of eviction. That said, there are side doors to getting pets into non-pet buildings (though this is in no way an endorsement of skirting the rules in your lease).
One is the three-month rule, which means that if you have a pet in your apartment “openly and notoriously” for three months or more and your landlord chooses not to enforce the part of your lease that bans pets, “such lease provision shall be deemed waived.”
Of course, the three-month rule means you have to live your life as you normally would, with your new pet in full view. (So no, you can’t smuggle your Yorkie out the door in a handbag or hide pee pads and water dishes when the super swings by to fix a leaky faucet). If your landlord hasn't said anything or filed a lawsuit after three months, they can no longer enforce the no-pet policy.
Unfortunately, if you live in NYC’s public housing you’re out of luck. The three-month rule doesn’t apply to New York City Housing Authority buildings, according to the NYC Administrative Code.
It also doesn’t apply if your pet “causes damage” to the apartment, “creates a nuisance or interferes substantially with the health, safety or welfare of other tenants.” (So a yapping Chihuahua might get you in trouble).
The nonprofit Mobilization for Justice recommends keeping detailed notes about when and where an employee of the building saw you with your pet and who else witnessed the encounter. Recording your comings and goings on video, making sure to capture staff seeing (or even petting) your pet can't hurt, either.
The law states that you shouldn't fear a “retaliatory eviction” if you're discovered, and if you lose your case in a lower court, you can appeal. Should the court rule you have to get rid of your pet, you can still likely keep your apartment, albeit after some hefty legal fees.
4. Get a letter from a health professional
If you need a pet as a support animal, the rules are different. Under various discrimination laws, people with a disability are allowed to have a service animal even if their building has a no-pet rule.
Service animals typically have certification from the facility where they were trained. What you need is a letter from a licensed mental health professional stating you need an emotional support or service animal—not a random online certification.
If that doesn't describe your situation, you're bound to land a rental that allows your specific pet after a little patience and perseverance—including if your current landlord refuses to budge and you are back on the hunt for a new place. These days every listing site has a "pet-friendly" filter. So tick that box and then read the fine print before you schedule a viewing.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story contained writing and reporting by Emily Myers.
