On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 18:24:12 +0200, B Vaughan wrote:
>On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 13:53:41 GMT, Rita wrote:
>
>>Renting a small apartment directly from the owner is not an easy task
>>in New York City. Sharing or subletting are far more realistic
>>possiblities. The housing situation in NYC is so tight that renters
>>must provide financial information and job information and no regular
>>landlord is going to rent to a transient. There is a long line of
>>people looking at every regular aparment vacancy. Having to find a
>>new place to live is the New York city dweller's worst nightmare.
>
>I can verify this. My daughter recently moved to New York after a year
>spent in Africa on a research fellowship. Since she had been out of
>the country, she had a new job and a brand-new bank account. This was
>a great obstacle to her in finding an apartment. She finally found
>one, but it was not easy. Every potential landlord did a formal credit
>check, as well.
>
>You also have to put a sizeable deposit on an apartment as well, which
>will be refunded (with some delay) when you leave, provided you paid
>all rents and didn't damage anything in the apartment.
And a deposit is usually required even for an apartment share or
sublet. In other words, unless one is incredibly lucky, you need to
have a wad of cash to shell out just to get into an apartment, even
if you just share with others.
I had to pull a tizzy fit to get back my deposit from the apartment
share I moved into upon first arriving here, and then found the room
was already taken and the regular tenant merely out of town.
That said, I have rented two apartments with regular leases without a
credit check. One in Brooklyn and another in Astoria, Queens.
Many landlords, however, require first and last month's rent along
with a security deposit equal to one month's rent.
>
>>Short-term apartment sublets or shares are much more feasible, but
>>you will have to perhaps investigate dozens of possibilities.
>
>This is certainly much more possible. However, you may be astonished
>at how much you will have to pay for a very small space with little
>privacy.
>
>>Many people share apartments with others, having their own bedroom and
>>sharing whatever other space exists.
>
>Some people even rent sleeping space on their living room sofa.
Indeed. Over the years I've seen some strange arrangements.
>
>>> Many reasons:
>>>- I don't konw NY, I can't understand where I'll sleep from a map on
>>>the web
>>>- I don't know which areas can be considered dangerous
>>>- web photos could show nothing of the real flat
>
>Very few areas of Manhattan are really dangerous. However, the
>northern part of Manhattan is quite a long trip from the central part
>of the island. My daughter lives in Harlem now, and it takes her 40
>minutes to arrive at her office in central Manhattan.
>>>
>>>>other boroughs somewhat less.
>>>
>>> for example?
>
>Some parts of Brooklyn and Queens are cheaper and have relatively easy
>access to central Manhattan. Most parts of the Bronx and Staten Island
>are not very convenient to central Manhattan. You should find out the
>nearest subway stop and how near the apartment is to the stop; get
>yourself a subway map to see how easy it would be to get to them.
Astoria, Queens, where I live is very quick and easy into Manhattan.
And rents, while hardly cheap, are lower than in Manhattan. The most
"desirable" parts of Brooklyn such as Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights
have rents comparable to Manhattan.
But for a person like the OP, who is looking to stay only for a brief
time, something makeshift might do him OK if all he wants is a bed for
the night. That would be a short-term apartment share. Just get
receipts for any money put out in rent and deposits, etc.
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