Unveiling the Story of a Vegan Landlord in NYC: Banning Meat Cooking since 2007

A vegan landlord in New York City has imposed a ban on tenants cooking meat in their apartments since 2007, leading to a discussion about unique landlord requirements.

In Brooklyn, two one-bedroom apartments listed by a vegan landlord stipulate that tenants must refrain from cooking meat if they choose to reside there, as reported by The New York Times.

The newspaper discovered this unusual requirement on nextdoor.com before it was taken down. The listing included a rule stating “no meat/fish in the building.” However, as per the Times, meat eaters can still live in these apartments; they just cannot cook meat within the premises.

The Times noted that Andrea Kelly, a broker for the building, clarified this matter to a prospective tenant, stating, “It’s not vegetarian-only, but the owner lives in the building and doesn’t want the smell of cooking meat drifting upstairs.” A source familiar with the situation in the building corroborated this information to Insider, explaining that the prohibition on cooking meat was introduced due to the pervasive smell that permeated the small building, which, although having acceptable ventilation, was not exceptional.

The same source disclosed that previous tenants, who have been asked to comply with this rule since 2007, according to the Times, were not particularly bothered by it. “They don’t care because they bring takeout. They don’t cook themselves anyhow,” the source shared with Insider. “If it works for you, fine. If it doesn’t, move on,” the source added.

While these requirements may seem unconventional, landlords have previously enforced meat-related provisions. Lucas A. Ferrara, the author of “Landlord and Tenant Practice in New York,” stated in an interview with the Times that such measures are not illegal in New York State. In 2015, Vice reported that a landlord in Washington provided discounts to renters who refrained from consuming meat. Additionally, vegetarian-only rentals have gained popularity in Canada as a means to attract individuals with religious or cultural dietary restrictions.

Online, various commenters expressed their opinions on this concept, with some questioning its validity while others supported it. Douglas Elliman, the property management company that listed the apartments, has not yet responded to Insider’s request for comment.