Moving to a new city
What should I know before apartment hunting in New York City?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Expect it to move fast. Many New York apartments are listed about a month before they are available and rent within days, so search close to your move date with every document ready. Landlords often use strict income rules, and you should understand who pays any broker fee before you apply.
A few patterns catch newcomers off guard.
- Timing: searching three months ahead mostly wastes time. Most listings are for units available in the next few weeks.
- Income: a common rule of thumb is annual income of about 40 times the monthly rent, and about 80 times for a guarantor.
- Documents: have ID, recent pay stubs or an offer letter, bank statements, tax returns and a landlord reference ready to send the day you view.
- Broker fees: these were long common in New York. The city has since restricted charging tenants for a broker the landlord hired, so ask who the broker works for and check the current rules.
- Deposits: New York State generally limits security deposits to one month's rent.
Neighborhoods are best judged by subway lines, not distance. Two apartments the same distance from your office can have very different commutes depending on transfers.
The pace makes scams easier to fall for. Never pay a deposit or fee for an apartment you have not seen, in person or on a live tour, and confirm the person showing it works for the owner or management. See our rental scams questions for the warning signs.
Want the whole picture? Read How to Find Housing Before You Move to a New City.