Pet Policies Outweigh Cost and Location for Dog Owner

According to a new survey, Cortland reveals that 86% of dog owners say pet policies are the top consideration when searching for an apartment.
By Leah Draffen

For dog owners, pet policies like size restrictions and pet deposits are a top priority for 86% of renters when searching for a new apartment, according to a Cortland survey of 1,170 Gen Z to Gen X renters with at least one pet. The consideration outweighs apartment cost at 82% and location at 77%.

Eighty-two percent of renters in the survey say that having a dog influences the decisions they make related to housing, with more 51% saying it “definitely” does. Two-thirds of all respondents say they would consider moving if they could tell their dog was unhappy in their current housing situation, and 70% of Gen Z say they would consider moving if their dog was unhappy.

Of the respondents, 70% say they are more likely to do business with a company that openly supports dog causes and charities than one that does not. Additionally, 76% of respondents think it’s important for their dogs to have pet friends nearby when considering where to live, and 80% say they would consider moving into a new housing situation if their current one wasn’t dog friendly.

“The survey underscores that pets are as much of a priority for apartment dwellers as they are to us, which motivates our team to continue to provide our residents, with hospitality-driven apartment living experiences with the whole family in mind,” says Tim Hermeling, Cortland executive vice president of marketing. “From yappy hours and other pet-friendly events to leash-free bark parks and dog grooming stations and spas, Cortland communities have a variety of amenities and policies that ensure that pets feel welcome and at home.”

The majority of respondents, 92%, strongly agree or somewhat agree that having a pet increases their quality of living. In line with the survey, Cortland has launched a new brand campaign featuring a talking pug named Cortie. The fully integrated marketing campaign will include connected TV spots, billboards, and other advertising across Cortland’s key Sun Belt markets.

“We strongly believe that apartments are more than buildings. At Cortland, our apartment homes are just that—homes. We pride ourselves on providing residents with a better living experience built around friendship, personal engagement, family, and community,” says Hermeling. “Our new brand icon, Cortie, adorably embodies all those qualities, reflecting our brand promise and differentiation in a memorable and engaging way.”

Having over 250 pet-friendly apartment communities across the U.S., Cortland has partnered with many local animal shelters to help find shelter animals a good home. Recently, the firm waived its pet fees for its community residents in Atlanta following an urgent call from the Dekalb County Animal Shelter, which led to the adoption of more than dogs now living in Cortland communities across metro Atlanta.