Cortland Survey Shows Pet Policies and Perks Beat Out Price and Location in Home Search

Pet policies, such as size restrictions and pet deposits, are the top consideration for apartment dwelling dog-owners nationwide when looking for a new place to live (86 percent) – beating out considerations like cost (82 percent) and location (77 percent). This data is among findings from a new survey by Cortland, a vertically integrated, multifamily real estate investment, development and management company that manages more than 250 apartment communities comprised of more than 80,000 homes throughout the US.

The survey also uncovered that 70 percent of respondents say they are more likely to do business with a company that openly supports dog causes and charities than one that does not and 76 percent of respondents think it’s important for their dogs to have pet friends nearby when considering where to live.

Additional survey insights include:

• 8 in 10 (82 percent) US Gen X – Gen Z apartment renters who own at least one dog say having a dog influences the decisions they make related to housing, with more than half (51 percent) saying it “definitely” does.
• Two-thirds (66 percent) of that same group say they would consider moving if they could tell their dog was unhappy in their current housing situation.
  • 70 percent of Gen Z apartment renting dog owners say they would consider moving if they could tell their dog was unhappy.
• 92 percent of respondents strongly agree or somewhat agree that having a pet increases their quality of living.
• 80 percent of respondents would consider moving into a new housing situation if their current situation 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,” said 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.”

With pets top of mind and heart, Cortland has also rolled out a new brand campaign featuring a talking pug named Cortie, who speaks about Cortland’s continued commitment to unmatched hospitality that makes apartment residents feel valued at home. The fully integrated marketing campaign will include connected tv spots, billboards and other advertising across Cortland’s key Sunbelt markets to support the key mission of building awareness and engagement among prospective renters.

“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,” said Hermeling. “Our new brand icon, Cortie, adorably embodies all those qualities, reflecting our brand promise and differentiation in a memorable and engaging way.”

Cortland has more than 250 pet-friendly apartment communities across the United States and has partnered with many local animal shelters to help find shelter animals a good home. Most 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 happily living in Cortland communities across metro Atlanta.

For more details on pet-friendly policies, visit Cortland.