Troubleshooting

How to make it through high rental season alive

By Lucy Cohen Blatter  | August 9, 2012 - 11:00AM
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In a city where more residents rent than own, we frequently focus on subjects important to renters. Some of us over here are, in fact, renters ourselves. And because now-through-September marks peak rental season in NYC, we're dedicating this week’s SurvivalList roundup to the dark art of renting.

We'll start with how to find the holy grail of NYC real estate--the no-fee apartment (beware that sometimes  “no fee” means “some fee” or “no fee under certain circumstances”)--as well as the 7 worst places to live in a building, some
insider tips on renting, what to do if you can't find a guarantor, and what's going through the mind of that on-site rental agent.

In NYC, brokers can be a necessary part of renting, so we’ve got posts on how to spot a bad broker, and an Agent Referral Service to ensure you won't wind up in the clutches of a scam artist.

On that note, here's what a Craigslist scam looks like, as well as signs that an apartment is too good to be true. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the 8 things your landlord will never tell you and these 15 tips for first-time renters.

We even have a Rent Coach who offers advice just for renters (from the pitfalls of renting an illegal sublet to embarking on a rent-to-own situation) and one from a serial renter, covering topics from how to make a great impression on your future landlord to creating better roommate relations.

Once you find that dream apartment, you might need some help decoding that textbook-sized lease. Check out the 5 most unenforcable lease provisions, security deposit self-defense, and tips for negotiating your lease renewal (without breaking the bank). 

After you actually move in, you may have some more questions like, should you get renter’s insurance?
how can you squeeze more people into that one-bedroom? can your landlord make repairs when you're not home? anddo you have to give your creepy super a key to your apartment?  

Oh, and in case you were wondering whether your landlord can really force you renew your lease two months in advance--wayyyy before the new stuff hits the market--he can. 

We’ve answered them all. So go forth and find the perfect rental... and good luck. You’ll need it.

Help finding an apartment

Leases & landlords

Life as a tenant

 

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topics:

bed bugs brokers brownstone landlords market reports moving negotiating rentals renters renting subletting
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