It’s been almost three months since I moved to New York. For the first two months, I stayed in an Airbnb, knowing that apartment hunting in New York wouldn’t be easy, especially without a full-time job or a guarantor. But I eventually found a sublease at an apartment with two lovely roommates for the next few months
Guarantor
In New York, it’s common for landlords to not only want you to have a good credit score but to earn 40x the rent. With New York rent prices being as high as they are, this can feel impossible. A guarantor makes 80x the rent and signs the contract with the tenant. That way, they can rent a place even if they don’t earn that much money. The guarantor must be U.S.-based, have a good credit history, and meet the income requirement.
As I do not have a guarantor and would like not to spend all my earnings on rent, living with roommates was a no-brainer. I wanted the chance to explore a neighborhood without having to commit to a one-year lease, so I used a few platforms to find short-term subleases.
Spareroom
Spareroom is a website where people can either look for roommates to sign a lease together or rent a room in an apartment where people already live. I found my current place through Spareroom.
I haven’t used Facebook for apartment hunting in New York yet, but I had great success with it in Los Angeles. A friend recommended I join the group Young Females: New York City. I might give it a try when I look for my next place. I’ll update this post if I do.
I had one house viewing through nyc.sublets. It’s a great way to find short-term leases as well as potential roommates to look for a place together. As people are more active on Instagram than on Facebook, it’s easier to get a feeling for what kind of person you might be living with.
Like any platform, Reddit comes with risks, especially regarding scams. That said, I had one house viewing through r/NYCapartments, and the subreddit can be a great source of tips and updates on the current housing situation.
Scammers
Speaking of scams, never pay a fee before viewing a place. In addition, the application fee should never be more than $20. Always verify the listing online, and research the landlord or real estate agency if you can. Also, always thoroughly read the contract before signing. There are, unfortunately, people out there trying to trick you out of your money, so caution is needed.
Brokerage Fee
I watched tons of YouTube videos on moving to New York, and one thing that baffled me was the brokerage fee. It’s not a fee you have to pay because you decided to hire a broker to help you find a place, but it’s a fee that landlords often pass on to tenants. Worse, depending on how competitive the rent is, the brokerage fee can be up to 15% of the annual rent, apparently sometimes even higher.
The good news is that “The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act is a new law that takes effect on June 11, 2025. This law prohibits brokers who represent landlords from charging broker fees to tenants”. That’s a huge win—it’ll make moving in New York a bit more affordable and fair, especially for those seeking rent-stabilized apartments.
Stabilized Rent
Stabilized rent means that the landlord isn’t allowed to increase the rent more than 2.75% a year. Almost half of all apartments in New York City are rent-stabilized.
Best Time to Move
The least competitive time to move seems to be during the winter months, while summer is the most competitive. I found my new home after the third house viewing. However, I know that many found theirs after looking at 10+ places, even during the wintertime. I’d definitely give yourself at least a month, ideally two, to look for a place.
StreetEasy is a popular site to look for apartments. As I was only looking for a sublease, I haven’t used it yet.
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Apartment hunting isn’t easy in New York, especially if you want to live alone. However, it is still possible to find a place to call home in this busy city.
