Renters want cheaper rent, but they’ll settle for some not-so-basic amenities. “Today’s most in-demand rental amenities are not traditional luxury amenities like a fitness center, pool, or business center,” according to Zillow. It’s pet areas and happy hours.
“Listings with a turfed pet area, coworking space or community happy hours are drawing more interest as renters appear to be prioritizing practical amenities and community-focused perks,” the analysis read.
Completely understandable, in my mind. Who doesn’t love puppies and cocktails?
For the analysis, Zillow looked at almost six million rental listings, from apartment complexes to single family homes, and found specific amenities that contributed to more saves and shares per day—a signal of demand, it said. To be clear, this isn’t a science, everyone likes different things.
Still, “the most in-demand amenities are off-street parking and in-unit laundry,” according to Zillow. Listings with mentions of off-street parking received 85% more saves and 103% more shares; those with mentions of in-unit laundry received 76% more saves and 67% more shares per day. Of course, those two are somewhat necessary and practical.
Fun comes after. Homes with pet-friendly spots resulted in 76% more daily saves and 91% shares; homes with air filtration mechanisms (less fun, but more or less practical in a post-pandemic world) got 72% more saves and 79% more shares; places that offer happy hours got 50% more saves and 67% shares; and rentals with coworking spaces got 16% more saves and 23% more shares.
There’s luxe amenities that result in more saves and shares, too. “Bowling alleys can contribute to 30% more saves and 37% more shares per day, and a putting green drives 25% more daily saves and 40% more daily shares,” Zillow said. As for particular features in a home, people seem to be fond of butcher block countertops and barn doors. I guess that means rustic luxury vibes are in?
And what maybe once was felt to be a necessity is no longer. Rentals with a business center get 24% fewer saves and 27% fewer shares per day.
For fun, let’s check out some rentals on Zillow in Los Angeles. There are several apartments in what looks to be a luxury complex downtown, where rents range from roughly $2,500 to $4,000 a month. Under amenities, it lists a lounge, clubhouse, rooftop deck, pet park, fitness center, pool, and business center. In another, in the heart of Hollywood, the complex has a pet park and pet washing station—plus a barbecue area with a pool and hot tub. Neither is cheap, but that’s a given.
If it isn’t amenities such as these on your mind, in some cases where there’s an influx of apartments, landlords are still sweetening deals to attract renters and keep their apartment from staying empty. It can be anything from weeks or months of free rent, lowered security deposits, discounted Wifi or parking, to helping move furniture in.
