Ways to Find an Apartment

#1: Brokers One of the most common methods of finding an apartment in New York City is using a real estate broker. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in, it's usually best to find a broker based there. Many brokers also have Web sites where you can view available apartments, sometimes even with photos and detailed descriptions.

#2: Word-of-Mouth There is good news for those who would prefer not to pay hefty brokers' fees: a substantial number of New Yorkers find their units by word-of-mouth, mostly from friends, relatives, and co-workers. If you're looking for an apartment, make sure everyone you know knows that you're looking.

#3: Classified Ads The third most common method used by recent movers is a classic: the classified ad. Movers cite using the New York Times, the Village Voice, the Daily News, local or community papers, and Newsday. Foreign-language or ethnic newspapers, such as El Diario and the Jewish Press, are also a good source of classified ads. Many newspapers now post their classified ads online, so make sure to check out the Web sites of local papers and online message boards like newyork.craigslist.org.

#4: Walking Around A small but notable percentage of movers find their apartment when they simply see a "For Rent" sign. It can pay to walk around the neighborhood you want to live in and look around.

#5: Housing Office If you're living here for professional or educational reasons, don't neglect your organization's housing office or service. They know what you often don't about renting in New York City and it's their job to help you find a great new apartment.

#6: Apartment Referral Service Referral services are a growing resource that savvy hunters, especially those who are comfortable searching on the Internet, should not neglect. For a monthly fee these services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available.

#7: Finding a Vacant Apartment in Same Building Other movers find their apartments in the same building in which they already live. Be proactive and talk to neighbors, doormen, supers, landlords, and/or your management company to see if another apartment is available in the same building.

#8: Going on Waiting Lists Affordable housing is often offered through waiting lists or application lotteries. If you have time before you need to move, put your name on waiting lists and/or fill out applications for affordable housing through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), or the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA).

#9: Community Groups You may occasionally find housing through local government offices or community groups that keep information on neighborhood housing notices.

New Apartment Checklist

Impress the Landlord.
If you find a great apartment, fend off likely competitors by being prepared: check your own credit history and bring along a current credit agency report; if possible, ask your previous landlord to write a favorable letter of reference; and also ask your employer, co-workers, and friends if you can use them as character references (bring a list with names and telephone numbers).

Fees and Deposits.
Find out exactly how much you are expected to pay up-front to rent the apartment. Note: security deposits may not be more than one month's rent in stabilized units; fees to superintendents or doormen, commonly called "key money," are illegal.

Ask for a Lease.
Leases provide many important protections for unregulated tenants such as a fixed rent for the duration of the lease. Unless you have a lease, your landlord can also evict you without giving any reason (after 30-days written notice). However, if you want the flexibility of moving on short notice, you may not want a lease.

Read your Lease.
It is important that you examine your lease carefully. Once you and your landlord sign it, the lease is considered executed and you have in effect agreed to every provision inside it. Check for the following:

• Does the lease state the correct rent, address, and landlord?
  
  
• Does the lease mention all the amenities agreed upon? Be sure to write down any oral agreements.
  
  
• Check your lease to find out the due date for your rent each month, as well as what late charges apply if you miss the deadline.
  
  
• Check to see if utilities are billed separately or are included in your monthly rent.
  
  
• Are there any special building rules? Find out if your new building is: pet-friendly, has limits on guests, has restrictions on running a home business, etc.
  
  
• What happens at the end of the lease term? Can you renew automatically? What happens if you break the lease? Can you sublet or assign (transfer) the lease?
  
  

Who is on the Lease?
If you are a renter, having your name on the lease gives you more protections and rights than any unsigned tenants. If you want your partner, child, spouse, roommate, or relative to have lease protections, it is a good idea to put their name on the lease at the outset (later additions may trigger a vacancy increase in stabilized apartments). But also be aware that more names on the lease may mean more complications in the future if relationships change.

Roommates?
If you are joining a household as a roommate, try to find out what the primary tenant's plans are. If the primary tenant leaves and you are not on the lease, you have no right to stay in the apartment. If you would like to stay at your discretion, see if you can add your name to the lease, although this may trigger a substantial rent increase in stabilized apartments.

Rent-Stabilized?
If your apartment is rent-stabilized, be sure to keep the following in mind:

• Ask for the Rent Stabilization Rider. The Rider describes the rights and obligations of tenants and owners under the Rent Stabilization Law. It also states the previous rent for the apartment.
  
  
• Ask if the building is operating under the 421-a or J-51 tax incentive programs. If the building was built with the aid of a tax exemption, your rent is regulated for the period of the exemption (usually 10-20 years). At the end of this period, your landlord can charge "market" rates.
  
  
• Are you the first tenant in a decontrolled unit? If you are the first tenant in a previously rent-controlled apartment, the owner should have negotiated with you before charging a rent. You have 90 days from the first day of receipt of notice (called the RR-1 form) to file a "Fair Market Rent Appeal" (FMRA) if you want to challenge the new rent.
  
  

Landlord's Right to Access.
If you are concerned about privacy, be sure to ask for wording in the lease limiting the landlord's ability to enter your apartment (except during emergencies). Tenants in multiple dwellings also have the right to install and maintain their own locks on their apartment entrance doors, but you must provide the landlord with a duplicate key upon request.

What Happens if Your Landlord Leaves?
Landlords must notify tenants, by registered or certified mail, of the name and address of the new owner. New owners of rent-stabilized buildings are responsible for returning any security deposits and interest. This responsibility exists whether or not the new owner received the security deposits from the former landlord (When a building is sold, the landlord must transfer all security deposits to the new owner within five days, or return the security deposits to the tenants). Foreclosure of the building also does not affect your lease.

Need More Help?
For more information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, check out the NYS Attorney General's Landlord/Tenant Guide. Also, if you are moving into a rent-stabilized apartment, you have additional rights as a tenant: check out the NYS DHCR Factsheets on our Web site.

Get more information about looking for an apartment from the Rent Guideline Board's Web site.

Daily Newspapers

NY Times
FREE listing of apartments and houses for rent and sale throughout the city (and the world). Includes archives of Times articles, profiles of neighborhoods, school test score results, City data, a real estate tracking service, and more.

NY Daily News
FREE listing of apartments for rent throughout the City. Their search engine is run by Power One Media, which provides listings from around the country.

AM New York
FREE listing of apartments and houses for rent or sale primarily in the Long Island and Queens area.

NY Post
FREE listing of apartments and houses for rent or sale throughout New York City, especially Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Web site's search engine provides a large number of options to narrow your search.

Staten Island Advance
FREE listing of apartments and houses for rent or sale throughout Staten Island, searchable by neighborhood, minimum or maximum rent, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms.

Village Voice
A weekly newspaper with FREE list of apartments and houses for rent and sale. Their Web site's listing provides a large number of apartments in select areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn, but limited choices in other areas of NYC.

New York Magazine
Magazine runs features articles periodically on housing market in NYC. Apartment guide affiliated with a local weekly magazine, but run by a service requiring membership.

New York Observer
A weekly newspaper sold primarily in Manhattan. Web site and newspaper offers a small real estate section with apartments listings (primarily in upscale areas of Manhattan).

New York Press
A weekly newspaper available in Manhattan. Offer apartment classifieds (primarily in lower Manhattan) online and in print.

Bronx
Bronx Press-Review (718-543-5200), Bronx Times Reporter (718-597-1116), Co-op City News (718-671-1234), Bronx News (718-671-1234), Parkchester News (718-671-1234), Riverdale Press Classified (718-543-6200)

Brooklyn
Bensonhurst Paper (718-834-9350), Brooklyn Daily Eagle (718-422-7400), Brooklyn Heights Press (718-422-7400), Cobble Hills News (718-422-7400), Courier Life Publications (718-615-2500): Kings Courier, Bay News, Flatbush Life, Bay Ridge Courier, Canarsie Digest, Brooklyn Graphic, Park Slope Courier, Brooklyn Heights Courier, Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill Courier, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Courier, Caribbean Life, 24/7; The Brooklyn Papers (718-834-9350): Park Slope Paper, Brooklyn Paper, Brooklyn Heights Paper, Downtown News, Bay Ridge Paper

Manhattan
The Villager (212-229-1890), West Side Spirit (212-268-8600), The Westsider (212-268-8600), Our Town (212-268-8600), Chelsea Clinton News (212-268-8600)

Queens
TimesLedger.com (718-229-0300): Astoria Times, Bayside Times, Flushing Times, Forest Hills Ledger, Fresh Meadows Times, Glen Oaks Ledger, Howard Beach Times, Jackson Heights Times, Jamaica Times, Laurelton Times, Little Neck Ledger, Queens Village Times, Richmond Hill Times, Ridgewood Ledger, Whitestone Times, Woodside Times; The Queens Ledger / Greenpoint Star Weekly Newspaper Group (718-639-7000): The Queens Ledger, The Queens Examiner, The Forest Hills/Rego Park Times, The Long Island City/Astoria/Jackson Heights Journal, The Glendale Register, The Leader/Observer of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill & Howard Beach, The Greenpoint Star & Brooklyn Northside News, The Brooklyn Downtown Star; Queens Tribune (718-357-7400), Times Newsweekly (718-821-7500), Rockaway Wave (718-634-4000)

Staten Island
Staten Island Register (718-447-4700)

Asian-American
Asashi Shimbun (212-398-0257), Filipino Reporter (212-967-5784), India Abroad (212-929-2392), India Tribune (212-564-7336), Korean Central Daily (718-361-7700), Korea Times (212-239-7337), Ming Pao Daily News (718-786-2888), Sing Tao (212-431-9030), World Journal (212-966-7750), Urdu Times (718-297-8700)

African-American
Amsterdam News (212-932-7440)

European-American
Dziennik Nowojorski (212-594-2266), Hellenic Times (212-986-6881), Hungarian Weekly Nepszava (212-737-9370), Hungarian Word (212-254-0397), Irish Echo (212-686-1266), Jewish Forward (212-889-8200), Jewish Press (718-330-1100), Jewish Week (212-921-7822), Post Eagle American-Polish Weekly (973-473-5414), Russian American Advertising (718-946-0012)

Latino / Carribean
Brazilian Times (212-575-9160), Caribbean Communication (212-944-1991), El Diario / La Prensa (212-807-4600), Haiti Progress (718-434-8100), Jamaican Weekly Gleaner (718-657-0788)

Other

Metro List Express (MLX)
A locator service; includes apartments primarily in Manhattan. The search engine provides a range of selection variables (price range, community location, number of bedrooms, fees) to narrow your search. Also offers community descriptions and other info. Registration is required to search, with free and "premium" sign-up levels.

Apartment Source
This site requires registration to use its locator service. In return for a varying fee, you may search their Web site and automatically receive e-mail listings of apartments.

CityRealty.Com
Free locator service; lists apartments throughout the City. The search engine on their apartment directory asks you to select a price range, neighborhood, and number of bedrooms. Web site also has information on neighborhoods and apartment-hunting tips.

Easy Rent
This site provides listings for a fee in New York and other cities.

Halstead
A New York City real estate broker, with only Manhattan apartments for sale and rent.

Corcoran
NYC real estate broker offering apartments in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and eastern LI. Features guides on how to find the best neighborhood and apartment.

CraigsList
Online listings of apartments and many other things in NYC and elsewhere.

TurfNYC.com
Online real estate agent.

HHRealtyGroup.com
Licensed real estate broker.

MatchRealtyNycApts.com
Licensed real estate broker.

BP Vance
Licensed real estate broker.

Citi Habitats
Licensed real estate broker.

Citirent.com
This apartment locator service provides apartment rental listings in Manhattan for a one-time fee of $189. They provide daily updates on their website and by email of new apartments that fit your criteria.

Prudential Elliman
Licensed real estate broker.

LiveUptown.com
Harlem real estate Web site that specializes in helping users search for Harlem apartments for rent and sale.

Rose Associates
Rose Associates works with landlords providing on-site leasing offices. Consumers benefit as the tenant pays no broker fee to locate an apartment.