How Can a College Student Rent an Apartment in New York City

You survived the chaos of high school, got accepted into a college in the Big Apple, and are about to start buying books.

September is just around the corner, and you’re inches away from living the kind of life written about in major American novels. The only major hurdle you have left is figuring out where you’ll live and how you’ll rent in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Finding an apartment in New York City that you can afford can be a daunting task. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be dangerous or impossible for students to rent.

Our quick guide will help you make the most of your home hunt, even when fresh out of college.

How College Students Can Find an Apartment

• Some students look for off-campus housing due to the expense, housing shortages, lifestyle circumstances, or the dormitories are simply off-putting.
• You should learn the income and credit requirements for renting an apartment in New York.
• Getting roommates or guarantors may be a necessity.
• Working with a real estate agent might help you find the right place.
• Buying renters insurance can protect you and your possessions.

Reasons Students Might Rent an Apartment Off-Campus

Dorming is always an option if you’re lucky. For many students, having housing is a great way to save a ton of money while you attend college in New York.

However, student housing has a lot of limitations that make it a poor option for many students.

Many colleges don’t have enough housing for new students, and almost all universities in the New York City area have specific guidelines about who can use student housing.

There’s a chance you might not cut, either due to a shortage, guidelines, or just a lifestyle change.

Older students might not feel comfortable sharing a dorm room with people who are far younger than they are.

Most college dorms will not allow students who are married or have children to move in, either.

Furthermore, even if you qualify for student housing, many dorms are old, outdated, cramped, and expensive.

In many instances, renting an apartment with roommates can be more cost-effective than living in student dormitories.

Renting an apartment or a room outside of school gives you more privacy and control over your surroundings and lifestyle.

How do you afford to rent in New York City as a college student?

Being a college student is always tricky, especially when making ends meet in New York City.

Traditional renting policies say you must earn at least 40 times your monthly rent to be approved for an apartment. Of course, most college students don’t make that much. Thankfully, there are some options on the table that you can consider.

The most common way to find a place to rent is to get roommates, and if you have friends attending the same school as you do, this is a great option.

Another option is to look into getting a guarantor to sign your lease. Depending on your situation, your school may also have housing resources to make the move easier.

What If You Have No Income As a Student?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone!

Most landlords require college-aged renters to show full-time employment proof, but there are loopholes.

Many landlords will also allow renters who show proof of full-time student enrollment. In some cases, this is mandatory, even if you do have a guarantor.

What Do You Need to Rent in New York City?

Some renting requirements are pretty common sense. You will need to have an identification card like a driver’s license. You will also require a decent credit score and proof of income.

You may need a guarantor if you struggle with getting income proof or having the minimum income to get approved.

In addition, freelancers will have a more challenging time getting rental approval. You may need to furnish tax returns and jump through additional hoops in these cases.

Thankfully, you can learn how freelancers get rent approval through our blog.

What Kind of Credit Score Do You Need?

Credit scores are a classic measuring stick to predict how likely you are to repay loans on time.

Landlords typically use them to determine whether or not you’re likely to bail on rent. These scores are determined by credit bureaus that track your spending habits, credit use, and loan payments.

The more timely your payments on loans, credit cards, and other forms of debt are, the higher your score is.

Your credit score can range from a low of 350 to a high of 800, with some credit bureaus extending their scores to around 950.

Landlords are far more likely to approve people with credit scores above 700, with prime renters getting top priority.

That being said, you will not likely have prime credit as a student. It’s okay, though.

If you score over 650, you will likely find a landlord who will rent. It can be a struggle, and you may need a guarantor to seal the deal.

Learn about how you can improve your credit score by reading this article.

What Is a Guarantor?

A guarantor is a person who cosigns on a lease, guaranteeing that you can pay rent monthly.

In the past, guarantors were typically parents who could afford the apartment independently.

That being said, you no longer need wealthy parents to get a guarantor.

Professional guarantor companies in New York specialize in assisting college students get approved for apartments.

To learn more, read our post on What is a Guarantor on a Rental Application?

Can You Sublet Instead?

With subletting, you’re leasing from someone currently renting an apartment. Just like regular apartment rentals, you will still probably need a credit score check and ID. If you are subletting from an individual, they may not ask for any financial documentation or credit score.

Unlike regular 12-month leases, subletting is a short-term offer that typically involves fewer hoops.

A sublease can be a good option if you’re looking for a quick fix.

Learn more about your options by reading How to Rent an Apartment in New York without a Job.

What Are Some Neighborhoods Good for Students?

The cool thing about New York City is that you can always find an excellent place to live in the area of your choice if you search long enough. Some neighborhoods are more popular with students than others.

In Manhattan, historic East Harlem, Inwood, and Washington Heights tend to be the neighborhoods to which college students who do off-campus housing tend to gravitate the most.

They are relatively safe and affordable and offer excellent commute options for students attending Manhattan-based schools like Baruch and City Colleges.

In most cases, Brooklyn neighborhoods offer a lot more affordability, but it can be a bit of a journey if you’re based in Manhattan.

Some of the more up-and-coming neighborhoods in Brooklyn that remain popular among students include Crown Heights, Bushwick, and Bed-Stuy.

Even NYU students have been renting in places as far as Bushwick for years.

While the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill areas have become more expensive, they are still teeming with students as they are the home base for many colleges like Pratt University, St. Joseph's College, and Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus.

Queens, Flushing, and Jamaica are always good places to consider. That said, it’s usually a very long commute.

They may be ideal for Queens College and St. John's students whose campuses are based in those neighborhoods.

The Bronx’s Concourse is a good option for people studying in northern Manhattan or the Bronx.

How to Avoid Being Scammed

Rental scams are a dime a dozen in the Big Apple, and it’s not unheard of for people to find themselves bilked out of thousands of dollars due to a scammer’s trickery. Here are some of the best tips to avoid scams:

Listen to your gut and be logical

Many apartments or rooms will not be available at $400 a pop. Most landlords have a lot of potential renters during the school season, so if your landlord seems too desperate to get you to rent right now, it may be a scam. If something feels wrong, it probably isn't good.

Work with licensed realtors

A licensed real estate pro will not tolerate scam artists, and many will not tolerate dealing with slumlords, either. Furthermore, scammers will usually shy away from working with a legitimate agent. They may charge a fee, but it’s well spent in the long run.

Check the apartment’s history.

New York has a lot of databases that are designed to help protect renters. Most real estate groups will offer you resources to research your options.

Never rent without seeing it in person.

If a landlord doesn’t want you to visit before moving in, you are probably dealing with a rental scam.

Do You Need Renters Insurance?

Considering how cheap it is, it’s foolish not to have it.

Many landlords expect renters to have renters’ insurance as part of their contract agreements, and they’re right to demand it. Insurance decreases liability.

Renters’ insurance covers any damages in your home due to an accident, a burglary, or any similar incident. It can even cover items that are stolen outside your home.

If you don’t have renters’ insurance and your apartment has an accident or an injury on the premises, you are the one who will have to pay out of pocket.

Considering that most insurance policies are around $30 for a studio apartment, it’s wiser to be safe than sorry.

Renters insurance should be a must for every student living in the dorm, and the school is liable for the loss or damage of your possessions.

How to Avoid a Bad Apartment

With prices being how they are, most students must give themselves a little wiggle room for amenities. However, there are certain things you really can’t tolerate in an apartment.

Every New York apartment must have safety equipment such as smoke detectors, heating, electricity, running water, and livable conditions. Building codes must be adhered to, and all apartments are expected to be pest-free.

If you notice something visibly wrong with the apartment immediately, it may be a good idea to keep searching.

Not all problems are immediately visible, especially if the problem is pest control or sanitation.

Before renting your next apartment, check to see if it was reported on the Bedbug Registry or if the landlord is a known "slumlord." It may save you a lot of time, money, and grief.

How Do You Avoid Renting in a Dangerous Neighborhood?

Research is your best friend here, and so is getting a feel for the neighborhood. The easiest way to avoid renting in a high-crime area is to Google the address to find out the region's history.

Most police records can also be obtained online, as well as neighborhood crime statistics. It would be best if you looked at incidents of crime per 1,000 people, as well as types of crimes that are being committed in the neighborhood. Are there primarily cases of theft or violent crimes?

A more personal way to avoid renting in the wrong area is to revisit the apartment at night. Do you feel safe?

If you don’t, you probably shouldn’t rent there. Reputation matters, too. Many of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan got solid reps because of their low crime rates.

Planning for a Lifestyle Change

Renting in New York City as a college student means you will likely undergo profound lifestyle changes. The biggest issue isn’t the partying or the grocery store trips but the transportation.

Students usually ditch their cars because they are costly to maintain and store in the city. Unless you’re willing to spend hundreds for parking and keep a keen eye on parking rules, you’re best ditching the car in favor of public transport.

Choosing a commute-friendly apartment is a very, very wise idea. A good rule of thumb is to avoid apartments that require more than a 45-minute college commute.

Specific bills will be much pricier than you may have initially expected them to be, and this is especially true with food and drink. Food can be 33 percent more expensive at grocery stores than what you're used to back home, and if you go out, expect prices to be far higher than what you’re used to at home.

If you're about to move, it’s essential to look for proximity to laundromats and grocery stores. Doing the walk to these two venues can save you a lot of money in the long run if you’re willing to put up with it.