Pet-Friendly Apartments for Rent in NYC
Pet-Friendly Apartments for Rent in NYC
It’s undeniable: New Yorkers love their pets. There are over 1 million pets living in NYC and nearly a third of all households own one of these furry companions. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pets can make life easier for many by keeping us company or relieving the stress of busy city life.
But finding the perfect apartment to accommodate your pet can be a challenge. Each place you look can have different policies, costs, or restrictions when it comes to housing a pet. The neighborhood you choose will also impact how you get the most of life in the big city with your favorite cats and dogs. Localize is here to guide you through everything you need to know about finding that perfect home for you and your pets.
Do NYC Apartments Allow Pets?
Technically no landlord can ban pets outright in any building throughout the five boroughs. NYC housing law allows service animals in homes of those who require them for special medical needs regardless of the building’s pet policies. However, for all other situations, landlords can legally enforce no-pet policies or require additional fees for pets in a lease. Tenants may also be required to sign a pet agreement saying they promise to follow certain guidelines like always having the pet on a leash when accessing common areas, having the pet spayed or neutered, or cleaning up after the pet.
What Types of Animals Are Considered "Pet Friendly"
Cats and dogs are the most common pets you’ll find domesticated in NYC, but other critters such as rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, and certain reptiles and birds can be housed in an apartment in the city. However wild animals and many exotic pet types are not permitted according to NYC housing law. This includes even ones such as ferrets, squirrels, monkeys, and iguanas, so check the law before splurging on that perfect new viper snake you found.
Why Is It Hard to Find Pet Friendly Apartments?
Many building owners prohibit pets. The main reason for this is the potential damage that a pet can cause to a property. Aside from permanent damage, the apartment can be especially difficult to clean after a tenant moves out, of which the responsibility may fall on the landlord. There also may be liability issues for a landlord if a pet were to harm a person on the premises. In some apartments, even if the lease allows for a pet, a landlord can revoke that policy after the fact if a pet becomes a nuisance such as barking frequently, causing unwanted smells that affect other tenants, or relieving itself in public places.
Can You Get Kicked Out of Your Apartment for Having a Dog?
The NYC housing law will prevent a landlord from pursuing legal action against a tenant for reasons involving a pet if a tenant housed a pet for over three months and a landlord was aware of it. In this case, the landlord cannot commence legal proceedings after those three months are up, regardless of the terms of the lease. This rule is really meant to protect tenants from being a victim of unfair actions by a landlord, like using the pet as an excuse for eviction long after it was known it lived in the building. Regardless of the laws, it’s always best to carefully read your lease before signing, no matter if you’re a current pet owner or considering becoming one later.
Are Pet Friendly Apartments More Expensive?
Not necessarily, but landlords might require additional pet fees. These fees can vary greatly depending on both the building and type of pet. In some cases, it may be a few hundred dollars. In others it may be in the thousands, or perhaps equal to one month’s rent. A luxury high rise may have relatively high pet fees, while you may have more room to negotiate in an older building.
Are Pet Deposits Legal in NYC?
Landlords can legally require a tenant to pay a one time pet fee. Although this isn’t technically the same as a security deposit, it may feel the same to many renters. NYC rent rules limit the amount a landlord can charge for a normal security deposit to one month’s rent and eliminate extra security deposits for pets. However, this “pet fee” may be less favorable to tenants since the rules on landlords returning a “pet deposit” to a tenant later aren’t quite as clear as a normal security deposit. The landlord may not even be required to do so depending on how they frame the terms of the fee in the lease.
So, while technically pet deposits are illegal now, a one-time payment for a pet is legal and you should carefully read the terms for this fee in your lease to know if that fee is refundable or not. How Many Pets Can You Have in an Apartment?
Some landlords may limit the number of pets allowed in a single unit. They also may impose restrictions on the size of pets they’ll allow in an apartment. This could have especially negative impacts on prospective pet owners who are already in the middle of a lease and now have their hearts set on a specific type of animal or on getting an additional one. The only way to know how many or what kind of pets your apartment allows is to carefully read your lease before signing.
What You Should Have in a Pet-Friendly Apartment
At the end of the day you know what’s best for your pet including the type of place that will match their personality and their specific needs. However, there’s things to be on the lookout for that might make one apartment less desirable than another for pet owners. First, consider how the size and layout of your apartment will affect your pet. Do you have a highly energetic breed of dog that needs plenty of room to run around? Well then, that efficiency apartment you found a great deal on may not be the best option. Or maybe you have a cat that doesn’t need much space but likes to hide away in different rooms throughout the day. Maybe a wide-open studio apartment won’t fit your needs then.
5 Amenities to Look for in a Pet-Friendly Building
As pet ownership continues to grow across New York City, many apartment buildings are finding new and creative ways to attract these renters. Keep an eye out for these pet-friendly amenities in your next apartment search: Private Community Dog Park: While NYC certainly has some great outdoor spaces for your pooch to run around some apartment buildings may offer on-site dog parks exclusive to tenants. These off-leash play areas may be a grassy area on the ground floor just outside of a building or they could be found on rooftops as well. Some apartment communities may even have indoor dog parks, a major perk on cold rainy days.
Pet Spas: On-site pet grooming facilities are becoming an increasingly popular amenity found in apartment buildings across NYC. Some buildings may even factor grooming services into your overall monthly rent, so it comes with no extra charges. Pet trims can be quite expensive around the city, so this can be a big cost-saver, aside from just an added convenience.
Pet Washing Stations: Your apartment bathroom may not always be the ideal place to shampoo your pet. Search for apartments that have pet washing stations in the building fit for even the largest of dog breeds and equipped with the proper handheld shower heads.
Pet Walking or Daycare Services: Do you dread the thought of leaving your pet home for hours on end while you’re at work? Check for apartments that offer pet care services from professionally trained staff. They can stop in once a day to take the dog for a stroll or watch your pet all day offering it plenty of activities, sometimes even with other pets.
Free Pet Supplies: It’s not uncommon to find dog treats in the lobby of apartment buildings going the extra mile to cater to their pet owning tenants. You may even find toys, poop bags, or water bowls out for tenants to use. Keep your eyes peeled when touring your new apartment to see if these perks are on display for your furry friend.
Best Neighborhoods to Own a Pet in NYC
Perhaps to some in the search for a pet-friendly home, an even bigger factor to consider than the inside of an apartment is the outside. These are the hottest areas in NYC to raise a pet according to Localize:
Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Harlem, East Harlem: We’re lumping in all of the neighborhoods on the fringes of Central Park because they’ll all put a pep in your pup’s step. It may come as no surprise, but dog-owners will love any apartment within a 10-minute walk of NYC’s largest, most lush open greenspace. Dogs can even be off-leash in certain areas of Central Park between 6:00 am – 9:00 am and 9:00 pm – 1:00 am. DUMBO: Waterfront access is a dream for NYC pet owners and even better thanks to the dog run found at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Brooklyn Heights: Just across from DUMBO pet-friendly perks keep rolling in. Not only is the river access unrivaled, but Hillside Dog Park offers one of the largest off-leash areas in NYC. Park Slope: Perhaps runner-up as NYC’s most cherished open space, Prospect Park brings joy to pets and their owners with it’s public dog beach and the nearby South Slope dog run. Long Island City: A wave of new residential development offering top pet-friendly amenities is putting Queens on the map for K9’s and felines.