Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nyc and rental

It's cheaper in LA.

SLC Mom — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:20 -0800

Is there a cheaper way to rent a car at JFK? I will be in the New York area Aug. 27-30, and need a car for the 4 days: Thursday Morning to Sunday evening. The cheapest car I can find on line is $72 a day!!! I am more accustomed to paying $20-30 a day (plus gas) in my local airport zone. Is this rate typical for New York? Are there cheaper car-rental options?

Quibbler-filter: 1. I already bought tickets. So it will be JFK.
2. I do need a car, as I will be driving out of the city with huge amounts of luggage.

Zipcar Update?

The Whelk — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:35:30 -0800

Daytrip Dreamin': I've read the previous question about Zipcars in NYC, but it's about a year old and I have some specific questions. I am considering joining, but have heard that the availability is not terrific. What's it like for a daytrips out of the city? Any big problems? Does it make sense if you're only planning to use it 2 or three times a year?

can a landlord demand more security deposit after you've moved in

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:53:20 -0800

nychousingfilter: I signed a lease, moved into my new apartment on the 1st and now my landlord is demanding an extra security deposit. Can they do this? First: I know you are not a lawyer and that even if you are, you're not my lawyer. Also this is posted anonymously because some of friends read Ask MeFi and I'd like my business to be private.

I'm taking time off to work on a startup, my family overseas is investing by covering the rent while I do and the company of a family friend signed a form guaranteeing my rent. I signed my lease, received keys, and gave the landlord's company first + last + security in the form of teller's checks which they've cashed last month, and I moved in on the first. All of a sudden the landlord has decided they want more forms from the company guaranteeing me which they don't want to provide, and have told my family that they'd like a few additional months security deposit. Can they do this? Can they cancel my lease and force me to move out or move to evict me if I don't cough up? I signed the lease but haven't received a copy of it signed by my landlord, so it's possible he's not signed it, but they cashed my checks and let me move in on the first. What are their options, and what are mine?

(And yes, I'm looking for a housing lawyer, but I'd still like to be able to know things and thus do my own research before I see one, hence this question. Thanks for help in advance.)

Help me smoke the smokers.

allkindsoftime — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:45:55 -0800

NYC-Renters-filter. How do I make my management company make the ass-hat neighbors upstairs stop using our patio as an ash-tray. We moved into a new first-floor apartment a few months back, and it comes complete with a private patio accessed from our back door, behind the building. Cleaned it up, threw up a patio table, umbrella, tiki torches, the whole deal.

And then the butts started to rain down. And it hasn't stopped. After the first month, we cleaned up a few dozen of them, and found that one of them had burned a hole in our umbrella. So we left a polite note with each of the rear-facing units on the 5 floors above us, asking them to please use an ashtray instead of the yard. We heard back from 3 of them letting us know they don't smoke, that left the top floor or the guy directly above us. The guy directly above us is regularly out on his fire escape with friends, smoking it up, but never drops them when we're out there. The other day, however, I heard them out there and then saw - through the window, a butt hit the patio.

We've called the management company multiple times about this. Today I did another cleanup and found 57 cigarette butts, 29 joint roaches, 19 used matches, and one broken lighter. That's over 100 chances to start a fire on our patio. And an hour after I cleaned up, I walked back out and found a fresh butt on the patio. The only open window above our place, all day, has been the neighbor upstairs.

I have it all in a bag and I want to march over to the management company, find the guy in charge, present him with the bag, documentation of our calls on the issue, documentation of the damage already caused, and insist that an end be put to it. But I'd also like to know what my rights are as a tenant.

Can I refuse to pay rent? Is there some department in the city that I can threaten to go to if the management company doesn't put a stop to this? Should I threaten to go to a lawyer? Should I go to a lawyer first? (I'd rather save my cash, hence this question prior to that) How do I make them get their shit together and threaten these kids with more serious consequences if they don't stop throwing their shit in our yard?

TIA.

does a nyc rental apartment need to have a certificate of occupancy?

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:19:26 -0800

nycfilter: is it legal to rent a newly-renovated apartment in an old residential building that doesn't have its certificate of occupancy yet? i know you are probably not a lawyer and even if you are, you're not my lawyer, but: i'm thinking about signing a lease on an apartment that was completely renovated recently. the building it's in is over a hundred years old and the former landlord was a slumlord who preferred to eat fines rather than fix it up to code; the new landlords bought it for a song and have spent money to bring it up to code, and they renovated two apartments that didn't have rent-stabilized tenants in them, one of which i'm looking to rent.

the apartment is configured as an open loft but i'd like to split up one end of it with pressurized walls to make two bedrooms—the landlord told me it would be okay as long as the walls didn't go all the way up to the ceiling because they hadn't had their inspection for the CO yet (electrical and plumbing inspections are already done) and the plans they filed for it were as an open loft, and that it would probably happen in a few months time and i could do whatever i wanted after that. is it legal to sign a lease on an apartment without a CO? should i be asking for reduced rent till then?

p.s. this is anonymous because my friends read ask mefi and i don't want them all up in my business.

Can you help me find office space for a non-profit in NYC?

jasbet07 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:08:39 -0800

Can you help me find office space for a non-profit in NYC? A friend of mine started an NGO in SF in 2004. A year ago they expanded to NYC but have been using donated office space and will need to find a new home starting September 1st of this year.

They are: an arts and education non-profit that facilitates global education through youth programs, development of curriculum for high school teachers, and the creation of a publication about global issues.

They are looking for: someplace fairly convenient to Brooklyn and/or Manhattan and subways, 400-1000 sq ft of office space for 2-3 employees (preferably with some room to grow). Ideally they would have access to shared conference room, color printer/ copy machine, kitchenette, wireless, phones. Their budget is $1300 or less per month. (Bonus points for a window or two...only in NY is this perceived to a be a "luxury item.")

Anyone know of:
(1) something specific,
(2) know of another organization that is looking to share space, or
(3) know of resources for such requests in the city?

I saw this but I think the nonprofit status adds a different element since I imagine there could be organizations that deal specifically with this sort of thing.

What documents should a Canadian bring along when apartment-hunting in New York?

limon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:58:24 -0800

Canadian moving to New York in September. Apartment-hunting in August. No credit history. Going to be a graduate student, so no fat salary either. But I can get a guarantor with ample funds, and I can pay several months in advance, if it's necessary. What documents should I bring with me to New York? Also, is this going to be impossible? How much time should I set aside for apartment hunting? (Is two-three weeks too little?) I'm looking for an affordable 1 bedroom in Washington Heights or Inwood. Any other relevant tips much appreciated.

What's your opinion on short-term sublets when visiting NYC?

xotis — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:09:07 -0800

What's your opinion on short-term sublets when visiting NYC for a few days, in lieu of a hotel? Is it a safe option? Details: I’m going to be visiting NYC for a weekend at the end of May. I’d like to get a good taste of the city outside of the touristy spots. This is not my first visit to NYC, and I’d like to stay in Brooklyn this time.

I’m considering doing a short-term sublet/rental of an apartment for 3 days/2 nights, rather than staying at a hotel. I’d like to get a better sense of what it’s like to be in NYC than what I feel a hotel can offer. I also like the idea of staying in a place that has a greater sense of being at home, than a hotel offers me when I travel. My budget is around $200 a night if I do a short-term rental.

When I’ve researched the subject, I’ve read some things that have me a bit nervous about a short term sublease/rental.

But, I’ve also read some things that make it sound like a pretty positive experience.

I’ve found a handful of places on craigslist that look awesome, and I have also found a bunch of places on this site that I really dig.

So, to recap – have any of you done a short-term sublet/rental of an apartment for only a handful of days in NYC? What are the reasons to not do this and to stay in a hotel instead (besides the obvious like costs, and conveniences)? What are some good steps to take to avoid getting scammed? I’m just looking to tap into some of your experiences.

Thanks Hive!

PS: I searched the archives, but couldn’t find any posts specific to my question. Your search-fu may be better than mine, so I apologize in advance for wasting your time if this topic has already been covered ad nauseam.

Experience with Saferentals.com

flxyp — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:16:38 -0800

Has anyone had any success using Saferentals.com? I came across their list for NYC and their listings seems too good to be true. I'd love to hear what the hive mind have to say and your experiences with this site. Thanks.

Shady Broker Situation

theseampsgoto11 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:15:22 -0800

My broker is trying to charge another fee to put someone new on the lease for the NYC apt. we've been living in for 3 years. Is this legal? Do I have any recourse? Brief backstory: About 3+ years ago, two friends paid a broker's fee and signed the lease on an apartment in Manhattan. One moved out and I sublet (legally) for a few months. Eventually, we added my name to the lease. I didn't pay a broker's fee, just $100 or so for a credit check.

Now my roommate is moving out and I found someone new to move in. Our broker is trying to charge this new guy a broker's fee for the new lease, even though I did the work. Is this legal? Do I have any options other than losing the apartment?

I'd appreciate any help - thanks!

Where could I rent a cello in NYC?

paul_smatatoes — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:13:15 -0800

Does anyone know where to rent a high quality student cello short term in NYC? Ideally, I'd like something hand crafted and valued at 10 - 20 k, but if need be I'll go lower end. Looking for a bow, too. Thanks!

Question about short-lease of a brownstone in NYC

bjork24 — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:54:35 -0800

NYC-vacation-rental-filter: we're on the cusp of agreeing to rent a six room brownstone in Williamsburg, but before we do, I need to know what we're getting into from people who have had similar experiences. First, is there a way to protect ourselves against fraud? We found the ad on Craigslist, initiated contact, have emailed back and forth several times, but I'm still a little nervous. The ad clearly states the address; the pictures match google maps street view; the name, phone number, and email address of the lady who lives there checks out; but I still want to be sure. Is there any sort of preferred method of payment in these situations that can protect both the lessee and lessor?

Also, if this works out, are there any questions I should ask the lessor now that will expose any otherwise hidden charges (i.e. cleaning fees, etc.)? If you've been in a similar situation, is there anything you wish you would've known upfront that would've led to a more enjoyable experience? Thanks!

Paranoid Landlady

Xoder — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:03:36 -0800

My friends' landlady is clearly paranoid and harassing my friends. What can they do? So, my friends have an adorable 16-mo. old son, and rent an apartment in the Bronx. As their credit histories were a little thin, the landlady insisted upon two months rent as a security deposit ($2800). This is in addition to the first month's rent, for a grand total of $4200. A little steep, but they needed a place here.

They've been living there for the past four months. During this time, the landlady has accused them of smoking in the apartment just about every month, some months two or three times. My friends would NEVER endanger the welfare of their son, nor their lease (and their nearly $3k, which the landlady says she will keep if they break their lease).

Just today the landlady came upstairs to finally install their legally-required window guards. During this 45-minute procedure (that she never actually finished) she accused them yet again of smoking in the apartment. In addition, she accused them of spraying roach spray down the vent, but only when she's in the bathroom. [She started this conversation by asking if my friends have some sort of "personal war" against her.] She then spent an additional 1.5-hours searching the apartment for roach spray or cigarettes, neither of which my friends have, and again, would never use around their son.

She also informed my friends that the downstairs tenants got evicted for smoking, even though they obviously weren't (i.e. my friends would have smelled the smoke too). Also, the people who lived in my friends' apartment before them were kicked out for (allegedly) smoking.

When my friend asked why the landlady was harassing her, she said that she knew the law regarding harassment, and she wasn't doing it. In addition, that the downstairs tenants had filed a report, and that she knew the right people to make sure she "got what she needed". Which is apparently this entire building to herself. She says she's done it before—the apartments were vacant for months before my friends moved in.

The landlady keeps her (ground-floor) windows open all the time, which does not fit with her claims of allergies. Previously there have been scents that were coming off the street that she attributed to my friends.

What are my friends' rights in this situation?
How can they prove that they are not smoking/spraying/whatever?
Can they get the landlady on harassment? They have been taking notes, documenting what and when she makes such accusations.
Was the 2-month security deposit legal?

I'm sorry for the massively long background and for stacking questions, but this has got my friends at wit's end. It does not help that one of them just moved here from another city, and is having a hard time adjusting.

Thanks all.

Get a band in a van to get out of NYC?

andrewraff — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:48:25 -0800

Where do we rent a van in the NY metro area to move 4 people, instruments, drums and amps for a short jaunt from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, DC and back to Brooklyn towards the end of this month? Besides being able to carry all of the equipment, price and convenience to the Downtown Brooklyn/Carroll Gardens/Gowanus area are the major considerations. Is it best to go with one of the major chains or is there a smaller, local place that is cheaper yet safe and reliable?

Shouldn't our landlord sign the lease too?

edlundart — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:11:30 -0800

We signed a lease (2 copies) on a new apartment in NYC, at our broker's office. The 2 copies were sent to the management company. As promised, the management company sent one of the copies back to us about a week later. It's got our original signatures, but the landlord didn't sign it! The line for the landlord's signature is empty. Doesn't this mean that we're bound to the terms of the contract, but the landlord is not? It seems very wrong. Is it normal? Should we demand a copy of the lease with the signatures of both parties on it?

NYC broker recommendations

twoporedomain — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:29:26 -0800

NYC broker recommendations and resources The boyfriend and I are hoping to move within Manhattan soon, and are in the uniquely advantageous position of having a flexible end-date to our current lease, having the budget to afford an apartment in our ideal neighborhoods, and having most of the moving and brokerage costs reimbursed by his company. This last point, combined with our laziness, means that we want to go through a broker. I’ve read previous threads about renting in New York (1, 2, 3, 4), and understand that there is a strong anti-brokerage firm sentiment here. But given that we’ve already decided to use one, can you help us out with the following:

1. Recommendations for (or against) a particular firm or agent? We are especially interested in brokers that cover Chelsea and the West Village areas. Personal recommendations or anecdotes are appreciated, as well as links to helpful forums.

2. I’ve read that late summer/early fall is the worst time to look for apartments. How true is this? And does going through a broker mitigate this at all?

3. How long can we expect this process to take, given that hopefully most of the legwork will be done by someone else?

Thanks all!

Marines are notoriously strict about dress codes.

ChasFile — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:28:25 -0800

Where can I rent a tuxedo for Friday night (just over 48 hours from now) in New York City?

Living below an SRO?

miriam — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 18:59:33 -0800

My roommates and I have put a deposit down on an apartment in Brooklyn. We're supposed to sign the lease (and fork over the rest of the cash) on Thursday. Idly googling our new address, I discovered that our two-family building contains an SRO (single-room occupancy) dwelling for three people who have been homeless, drug-dependent, incarcerated, institutionalized, or mentally disabled on the second floor. Was the broker or landlord required to tell us this? We are currently trying to get in touch with the non-profit agency that runs the SRO to find out what kind of tenants we might expect to live above us. As we gather information, we're interested in knowing whether or broker or landlord was required to disclose the fact that the second-floor apartment is leased by a non-profit as SROs. Or perhaps the broker or landlord is specifically required not to disclose this information, since I understand that they're prohibited from making certain statements about the economic or racial makeup of the neighborhood.

Any advice or information you can offer, legal or anecdotal, is much appreciated. I'm not sure that we're going to try to get out of the agreement; we're waiting 'til we talk to the non-profit to find out what kind of clients might live above us.

NYC for a month on a shoestring!

kaytwo — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:48:48 -0800

Living in NYC for $20/day for 3-4 weeks: is it possible? How? A friend of mine is moving to New York City on Sept 4th to start a new job. My friend's money situation is such that she needs to find lodging at about 20$ per day for 3-4 weeks. She's considering a hostel or someone's couch or whatever you fine Metafilterians can suggest near the Metro N Harlem (Grand Central, Harlem, or Woodlawn).

I've got a lot of pent up drumming. Where can I release it by the hour in Manhattan?

jeffxl — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:06:35 -0800

Where can I rent a room and a drum set by the hour in Manhattan? I'm looking to play the drums regularly again. I used to do this when I lived in Minneapolis quite easily since owning a drumset/affording a personal studio were all non-issues. Here in the land of small apartments and big bucks, doing the same thing isn't possible.

So I'm looking to re-create my previous situation, only without the owning part, and now by the hour. Manhattan would be best, specifically the UWS or Midtown, but I'd be willing to consider other options.

So do any of you mefites know of any great places that offer such a service? Playing a drum set that hasn't recently been beaten by wild chimpanzees is a huge bonus (read: not a piece of shit).

Sub question: Do I have to bring my own cymbals, or is everything provided?

How to avoid paying an insane broker's fee when renting a Manhattan apartment?

Afroblanco — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:41:04 -0800

How to avoid paying an insane broker's fee when renting a Manhattan apartment? My roommate and I are looking to move into a 2-bedroom apartment on Sept. 1.

All of the brokers that I found on Craigslist say the same thing - "You're moving at the worst time of the year, and our fee is 15% of annual rent."

There don't seem to be too many non-broker options.

What are some strategies for getting around this? As far as I see it, Craigslist has already failed us.

Auditorium rental in NYC?

chelseagirl — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:43:20 -0800

I need to rent an auditorium or theatre for a night. My organization is having its annual meeting and they need 200 seats, a meeting room, and a reception area. Is there a directory of theaters/auditoriums/conference centers in NYC? I've been Googling "nyc auditorium rental" and "nyc theater rental," so I've got that covered.