How feasible/expensive is it to AirBnB in NYC until I find an apartment?

May 13, 2017 12:34 PM

I'm looking for an apartment in NYC and I find the best way of doing it is waiting until I get lucky and something pops up at a good price through a friend. I am not really budget restrained in that I can do up to $2500/mo comfortably. I tried using the Gypsy Housing and Roomie, I'm open to a 6 mo sublet or with roommates, so if there's something better then AirBnB that'd work but I seem to never hear back with these services even though I'm a normal person with a normal job.

I don't want to sign a 2 year lease at this time and I don't really want to put up first and last month plus security deposit or something crazy as I'm moving and wasn't preparing on dropping $8k or whatever on that, which is why I'm taking these alternative routes. I'm already finding potential roommates through friends, so I'm confident that I could a normal situation.

I had a friend who did this, how hard is it to deal with changing apartments every month or so? I basically have all my stuff in storage, but didn't know of logistically this stinks.

posted by geoff. to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

I used an AirBnb for 3 weeks when I moved to NYC in order to buy time to find an apartment. It worked out well-- we got an apartment right on time and would have had no problem finding another AirBnb if we needed it. I was glad to leave because, as we got to know the host more, it turned out that we would definitely never be friends or choose to associate with each other and would have difficulty as roommates on a longer term. I've stayed in a lot of Airbnbs over time and it's a crapshoot whether you'll get along well or not. But this is also true of all roommates.

It would have been no problem to find somewhere else to stay; some hosts are fine with longer stays, some are not. There are a LOT of Airbnbs in NYC, of varying quality. Padmapper will help you find the longer-term ones. The Listings Project is good for finding a roommate situation, but it skews expensive and Brooklyn. Queens is cheaper. You should be able to find something for your budget eventually.

My partner basically did this in Alaska for a year-- she got her mail at work and couchsurfed/housesat/sublet a whole lot and saved up money that way. She is a minimalist who can sleep literally anywhere, so it works for her. If you just have stuff in a bag and are generally flexible with your requirements, it's a good way to save money and sometimes to meet people. It sort of sucks to live out of a bag since you're very limited in what you can and can't have with you, and because you're stuck using the host's kitchen, which may have rules that seem odd to you (or you might get stuck with a host who SAYS the kitchen is fine to use, but is obviously seething with resentment that you're in there.)

Most leases are for a year, so I don't know where you're seeing 2 years. But it is a major chunk of money and I don't blame you for wanting to save up some.
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:26 PM on May 13, 2017

Have you looked into Oakwood properties? They have extended stay furnished apartments in the New York City area. I don't have experience with NYC, but I know people who rented an Oakwood apartment for 30 days in one of their Washington, D.C. properties and they were very satisfied with it.
posted by gudrun at 3:15 PM on May 13, 2017

Even in a roommate situation, you're going to be expected to replace a departing roommate's share of the security deposit. Just FYI.

Also be aware that unless the tenant is also living there at the time, an under-30-day sublease is illegal under most circumstances in NYC, and enforcement has been ratcheted up. Yes, no matter what AirBNB implies. There's still probably not much risk to you, but, should you find yourself looking at such a listing, consider whether you really want to contribute to making the city unlivable for your personal convenience.
posted by praemunire at 3:56 PM on May 13, 2017 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I had good luck with furnished sublets in NYC. I've done it 3x. I moved here with no furniture and wanted something temporary to start with. I would have kept doing it if I hadn't of moved in with my girlfriend.
posted by Jungo at 10:40 AM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Did you look at Padmapper? I found that to be a good resource for finding sublets.
posted by deathpanels at 8:07 AM on May 20, 2017