New York Landlord Asks Tenants Not to Cook Meat or Fish in Apartment
It’s not just high rents that can be a problem in New York. Some owners also have special requirements. In a recent real estate advertisement published in New York, a vegan owner living just above the apartments for rent specifies that she refuses to allow her tenants to cook fish or meat.
The New York Times has taken a particular interest in this subject. The newspaper highlights two spacious apartments located in Fort Greene, a Brooklyn neighborhood, in a beautiful brick building. The rents for these one-bedroom units are $4,500 and $5,750 respectively. The ad explicitly states, “no meat or fish in the building.”
The real estate agency clarifies that it is not forbidden to eat meat or fish, only to cook it. The vegan owner, who lives above the apartments, does not want the smell to permeate her home. Although she declined to speak to the press, her ex-husband, quoted by the Times, revealed that she has imposed this condition since purchasing the residence in 2007.
According to the New York newspaper, such a request is legal. The city of New York prohibits landlords from considering factors such as age, ethnicity, occupation, source of income, family status, or sexual orientation when selecting tenants. However, diet is not on this list. The Times interviewed a law professor, an expert on tenant and landlord practices in New York, who stated that unless a tenant has a medical condition that requires concessions, there is nothing preventing a landlord from imposing such a restriction.
The New York Post, a city tabloid, sent a reporter to the scene to gather public opinion. A manager of a neighboring building expressed shock, stating, “You can’t tell people what to eat and what not to eat.” A local mechanic wondered if it would be possible to outlaw odors, as his neighbor’s kitchen emits unpleasant smells. A prospective tenant, unable to visit the apartment due to lack of an appointment, told the Times that the rule did not concern them as much as the fact that someone upstairs would enforce it.
This story highlights the tension in the New York real estate market. In Brooklyn, the cost of living is 80% higher than the national average, according to the UpHomes site. Additionally, rents in New York have increased by over 10% on average between February 2022 and February 2023, according to Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
As the demand for housing continues to rise in New York, it seems that landlords are becoming more creative in setting their requirements. While some may find the vegan owner’s request unusual, it serves as a reminder of the diverse preferences and challenges faced by both tenants and landlords in the city.
How does the no meat or fish policy in the building affect the rental market in New York City, and could it set a precedent for similar restrictions by other landlords in the future
O permeate through the building. This unusual requirement has sparked a debate on social media, with some praising the owner for maintaining a clean and odor-free environment, while others argue that it infringes on tenants’ rights.
The New York Times reached out to the owner, who explained that she had originally purchased the building with the intent of creating a vegan-only community, but later decided to rent out the apartments instead. She emphasized that she respects her tenants’ dietary choices and does not impose her vegan lifestyle on them.
However, critics argue that this requirement limits tenants’ freedom to cook and consume their preferred foods in the privacy of their own homes. They argue that such a restriction goes beyond the normal expectations of a landlord and infringes on tenants’ rights.
New York City’s landlord-tenant laws are complex, and it is unclear whether a landlord can legally prevent tenants from cooking certain foods. Tenant rights advocates argue that landlords can enforce rules regarding odors, but not specific cooking practices.
The real estate agency representing the apartments has stated that they have received numerous inquiries regarding the no meat or fish policy, but some potential tenants have been put off by the restriction. Others, however, view it as a unique selling point, highlighting the desire for a clean and vegan-friendly living environment.
It remains to be seen how this requirement will impact the rental market and whether it will serve as a precedent for other landlords in the city. In a city known for its diverse culinary scene, it is clear that this issue raises questions about the boundaries between a landlord’s rights and a tenant’s freedoms.
