Nearly three-quarters of NYC rental listings say they are pet friendly
- NYC ranks seventh on a list of the top 10 most pet-friendly cities for renters in the U.S.
- 72 percent of rental listings are advertised as pet friendly according to a Zillow report
Wilson, the author's Boston Terrier, enjoying a walk in his Brooklyn neighborhood.
Andrea Reese for Brick Underground
New York City rents may be close to record highs, but here’s a treat for pet owners: Nearly three-quarters of rental listings say they are pet friendly.
In fact NYC ranks seventh on a list of the top 10 most pet-friendly cities in the U.S., with 72 percent of rental listings advertised as pet friendly, according to a new report from Zillow in partnership with BARK, creators of BarkBox, the subscription service for dogs. It’s an increase from 70 percent in 2021 and it’s more than the national average (55 percent).
Despite smaller average living spaces, New Yorkers are no less pet obsessed. “Pets allowed” is the second-most popular rental search filter, according to Zillow’s NYC brand StreetEasy.
New developments draw pet owners
Molly Franklin, an agent at The Corcoran Group, says she sees many pet-friendly listings in NYC, especially at new developments.
“Many new buildings promote their animal-centric amenities—think pet washing stations and dog runs—which is solid evidence that pet-friendly policies and features are increasingly big draws for apartment seekers,” Franklin said.
As rents continue to rise in NYC, Franklin said owners have become more lenient about allowing pets in order to attract high-paying renters.
“If landlords want to achieve top dollar, they have come to understand that the bulk of their audience has a dog or wants a dog. I have represented ‘no pets’ listings and they frequently linger longer and are more likely to need a price chop,” Franklin said.
It’s a legacy of the pet adoption boom of the pandemic, which coincided with landlords having to offer more concessions to secure tenants who were likely to be working at home. At this point, it's hard for buildings to return to stricter rules on pet ownership.
“You can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” Franklin said.
The most popular dog breeds in NYC
If you thought New Yorkers favored tiny dogs for small spaces, you would be wrong.
BARK’s data revealed that they most popular breeds in NYC are French bulldog and golden retriever and the most popular names in NYC are Archie and Charlie. And NYC is the only city to have French Bulldogs as the most popular breed.
Pet friendly doesn’t always mean dog friendly
Of course, just because a listing says it is pet-friendly doesn’t mean the building automatically accepts dogs.
And even when they do, buildings may have restrictions on the size or breed, said Emily McDonald, rental trends expert at Zillow.
“It's important to check your lease and talk to your property manager or landlord to learn more about your building's pet policies before adopting an animal friend,” she said.
Landlords sometimes refuse to lease to renters who own breeds they consider aggressive, like American Pit Bull Terriers or Rottweilers, or to people with dogs that weigh over 25-50 pounds, Franklin said.
This is much less of an issue than it was six or seven years ago, she said. But it’s a reason to turn to an agent who can help you find a pet-friendly building, Franklin added.
Brick’s best advice on owning a pet
Owning a dog in NYC is harder than in the suburbs, especially if you live in an apartment building, with a long elevator ride to the lobby and limited access to green space. (It’s a lot of work, so you can email me and I can help talk you out of getting a dog. Just kidding, sort of.) My biggest piece of advice, as the owner of a dog that once needed a $3,000 MRI: Get pet insurance. Immediately.
If you need to convince a landlord to let you have a pet, there are some good strategies to follow. Documenting your pet's health record and training is one tip. Building a relationship with a landlord or management company is another approach.
Then there is the three-month rule, which means that if you have a companion animal in your apartment “openly and notoriously” for three months, “any no-companion animal clause in a lease is considered waived and unenforceable.” This means you live your life as you normally would, with your new pet in full view. For more information, read: “4 ways to talk your landlord into letting you have a pet.”
Hiring a dog walker
Even if you work from home, it doesn’t always mean you’re free to do every walk. Lots of New Yorkers hire dog walkers—but not every dog-walking business follows the same practices. Read: "Hiring a dog walker. Here are the questions to ask and the answers you want to hear.”
Navigating building rules
Some buildings say they are pet friendly but still have very strict rules, for example, banning dogs in the lobby or in communal areas. For more advice, click on “When a pet friendly building isn’t friendly at all—and how to handle it.”
Getting along with the neighbors
True story: I once lived in a building where a dog barked all day long while its owners were at work. But do you know who seemed the most enraged? Not the neighbors, although I’m sure the notes they slipped under the door were not playful. It was the owners themselves who posted a long screed on the door telling everyone else where they could go.
I mention this because when you bring a new dog home, you’re not just bringing a dog to your own apartment, you’re bringing a dog to your building. For tips on acclimating your dog and lessening the impact on your neighbors, read: “How to introduce your new pet to the neighbors—and keep the peace.”
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