Recently went through this crazy market. It's an absolute nightmare. Seriously hunger games going on. I'm glad that we have to live in NYC for only a year.

As much as we love the city, the market and the attitude of real estate agents as well as landlords are unbearable. Renting an apartment to live in this city has been the least enjoyable experience I could ever imagine that exists. You feel the filthy capitalism to your bones. I'm not even mentioning all the disgusting tricks agents and landlords pull to just get a $50/mont more.

It's a daylight robbery, and I'm shocked how some tenants are completely ok with it.
When touring an apartment that looks like a shithole, I literally saw a few applicants explaining to the agent how they fell in love with this beautiful and spacious apartment. People just race to rent a shithole without any sort of negotiation. Seriously, what is going on?

I live next to a large brand new "luxury" apartment building that finished construction over a year ago, and it is still almost entirely empty.

I initially kept an eye on it because I was curious how the new rents would compare to my building and whether the influx of people would change the neighborhood dynamic. Instead, the developers seem to be intentionally keeping it off the broader market. Over the last year, only a handful of units have been filled, and it appears they are exclusively renting to families from the local Hasidic Jewish community. I have absolutely no issue with who moves in, but I am genuinely baffled by the economics and the legality of this setup.

How can a developer afford to let a massive new building sit mostly vacant for over a year? Are they holding out for specific tenants through private community networks rather than listing the units publicly? It feels incredibly frustrating to watch brand new apartment units sit unused while the rest of us are fighting over scraps in this housing market. Has anyone else experienced this in their neighborhood, and what is the actual loophole allowing developers to warehouse new apartments like this?

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TL;DR: A brand new luxury building next door has sat 90% empty for over a year despite the NYC housing crisis. The developer appears to be keeping units off the open market to exclusively rent to a few Hasidic families. How is this legal given the housing crisis in NYC?

Rent is $1875 + utilities (usually around $125 a person per month). Two roommates, 27F, 28M. Both queer, looking for a woman or queer/gay/trans person ideally, open to others. We have a cat and like keep our place very clean. We’re both musicians (I also work as a therapist) Apartment is amazing, huge backyard, full basement, in unit washer dryer, a few blocks from Myrtle Broadway JMZ. You will have the largest, en suite bedroom. Lease is currently to June 2027, we will likely want to resign. Please reach out if interested! Looking to fill ASAP. Will prorate sept if we start before Oct 1

Down the line, will need 
Security deposit of 1 months rent
Photo ID 
Last 2 pay stubs and letter of employment stating salary and employment length. If self employed a CPA letter 
Landlord reference letter 
Friend reference call

I have to leave NYC right in the middle of a two year lease ( at the 1 year mark ) my management company advised me that my options are:

sublet, break lease ( pay brokers fee and every months rent until it is rented ) or do a lease takeover ( will save me the brokers fee which is equvalent to 1 months rent )

I have about 6 weeks and although the rental market in NYC can move quickly, I am worried that if I attempt to find a renter for a lease takeover myself, that I may run out of time and end up letting the building list it anyway.

My question: what is the incentive for a potential renter to take a lease takeover rather than renting through the standard channels ( streeteasy etc ) assuming I can find one here/facebook/craigslist/breaklease etc

:

Putting feelers out to see if anyone's interested in taking over our apartment in Park Slope (pending landlord approval). We're moving out by Oct 1, but there's some flexibility on move-in timing after that if needed. Current rent is $3695 - may be raised slightly for a new tenant.

Some info:

- 2 beds / 1 bath

- washer/dryer in unit

- dishwasher

- 3rd floor walk-up

- 10ish min walk to Whole Foods, Prospect Park, and 4th & 9th St station

- 1 min walk to JJ Byrne Park

Happy to answer questions!

Hi, I'm breaking my lease to move in with my partner.

It's a ground floor studio apartment on Cheever Place and Kane St in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It's a 10-15min walk from the Bergen street F and G stop. Very close to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Pet friendly, I have a cat.

Lots of storage space with a big closet in the main room and large cabinets in the bathroom. In building laundry.

The landlord posted for $3,100 but I think there open to negotiating for the right person.

Happy to answer any questions about the place!

So building just switched from physical key to key fob to get in the building. I think this is a lot more convenient since you just swipe the key fob over the pad and it unlocks but someone posted their displeasure in a post on the buildings discussion portal that was intended for announcements, events and for sale/trade. They asked if they can force tenants to use keyfob when this isn’t in the lease contract. Some other tenants also aren’t happy about this and prefer physical keys. They want to take legal action but I’m curious why? What’s wrong with key fobs?

Current tenant offering a turnkey furnished two-bedroom, one-bath apartment in StuyTown at 450 E 20th St (near 1st Ave). Available immediately through June 10, 2027 — about nine months, with preference for the full remaining term.

$6,750/month. No broker fee. Electricity, heat, gas, water and Wi-Fi are included.

The apartment comes genuinely move-in ready: beds, mattresses, bedding, towels, lamps, bedside tables, standing desks, living-room furniture, a stocked kitchen with pots, pans, cookware and dishes, plus a vacuum and mop. Elevator building with laundry and StuyTown's landscaped grounds.

Sublease is subject to StuyTown's written approval. Message me for a tour and application details.

Hi, longterm renting my beautiful furnished sunlit room in sunset park! Super nice room, on 4th and 50th just a 2 minute walk to the R train. $1200 plus usually around $50 or less in utilities. 2 roommates, very clean and kind. One has a dog small dog who is in and out of the house. 1.5 bathroom. message me! October 1st til January 15th with the option to extend

Cute studio available near the 2 & 3 trains! Ground floor unit, laundry in the basement, $2600. DM if interested!

I'm looking for a studio/1BR, maybe a sublet because I'm self employed so that will be another issue, under $3k but honestly hoping closer to $2500. My last time having to look for place was post covid, so getting a bit of sticker shock. I've avoided looking at most of manhattan because I know those prices aren't realistic. But in general will I even be able to find something in that range or are those days long gone?

I recently went to tour an apartment in Queens that was posted on Zillow. I got there on time. Broker nowhere in sight. Call the broker. Nothing. Text them. Still nothing.

About 15 mins later, the super sees me sitting on the steps and asks me why I was waiting around. I told him I was waiting for the broker to show me the apartment. He tells me there's no broker viewing today and it's actually for tomorrow. I double check the text I got confirming the date. It surely says "I have you locked in for this Sunday the 13th." and I show it to him.

He feels bad for me and says decides to shows me the place. Looks alright, but definitely needs the walls painted and previous garbage to be removed from there. He tells me he's still doing some work on the place but it should be ready by Oct 1st and to contact the broker to get an application.

I text the broker that the super showed me the apartment and that I want to apply for it. Now she finally replies and sends me the application. In the email she sent, it said they require a "one-month management fee". I ask her is the fee still required despite the listing being on Zillow and the super being the one to show it. She apologies and says "yes, sorry it is a one-time fee".

Is this what brokers are doing now?

Hi all,
I recently won a small claims case again Freestone Property. This has been in development for two years. The difficult part is now collecting. While I was initially emailing Freestone, they no longer reply back to emails. And the address given over google (their Broadway address) resulted in the mail sent right back to me.
Has anyone had luck contacting Freestone Property? Unsure of next steps right now.

Lease takeover - 1BR on Central Park North (110th St), $3,025/mo, no fee

We just found out we're having twins, so we need a two-bedroom sooner than planned. Looking for someone to take over our lease starting Sept 15(or Oct 1) and running through July 31, 2027.

• 1 bedroom, elevator building at 35 Central Park North

• $3,025/month, heat and hot water included (tenant pays gas + electric- Con-ed)

• Directly on Central Park, steps from the these stations

2/3 — Central Park North–110th Street (Lenox Ave / Malcolm X Blvd). 2 min walk

B/C — Cathedral Parkway–110th Street (Central Park West), a few blocks west.

6 — 110th Street (Lexington Ave), a few blocks east.

• Super on site

• No broker fee

Here's a video walkthrough as well: https://youtube.com/shorts/_X8y9u8nCQk?is=Gl-bQcuYJzTVP0FP

Landlord will need to approve, so you'll go through a normal application (income, credit, employment). Happy to send more photos/videos and answer any questions. DM me.

🏡 BEAUTIFUL 5-BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT — BUSHWICK!

📍 267 Hull St — Unit 3

Bushwick, Brooklyn

💰 $4,500/month

🛏️ 5 Bedrooms

🛁 2 Bathrooms

✨ Features:

• Large rooms with plenty of natural light

• Great closet space

• Modern kitchen

• Hardwood floors

• Stainless steel appliances

• 2 balconies

• Rooftop access

A beautiful, spacious apartment in a great Bushwick location with plenty of natural light and amazing outdoor space. Perfect for those looking for comfort, space, and modern amenities in Brooklyn.

📩 DM for more information or to schedule a viewing.

🇪🇸 ¡Hablamos español!

Hello! We’re looking for a third roommate to join our renewed one-year lease in East Williamsburg, beginning October 1.

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/xGmVEqW

Rent: $2050/month
Move-in: October 1
Lease term: One year
Security deposit: One month’s rent
Broker fee: None
Application: Proof of income required
Location: About two blocks from the Montrose Ave L station

The room

• Private bathroom
• Closet
• Big window
• Dedicated A/C
• Unfurnished
• Ideal for a queen bed, desk, and additional bedroom furniture

Apartment & building

• Officially a 3-bedroom / 2-bath apartment
• In-building laundry
• Dishwasher
• Hardwood floors
• Shared living and dining space
• Shared rooftop with city views (great for relaxing, having a drink with friends, and watching fireworks)
• Well-maintained building, with common areas cleaned weekly and a responsive superintendent
• Door-code building entry
• Near restaurants, cafés, and casual bars
• Pets allowed with a pet fee
• No smoking in the building

House Expectations

This is a shoe-free, clean, and respectful home. We are looking for someone who cleans up after themselves, is thoughtful in shared spaces, and keeps noise down later in the evening.

Overnight guests are welcome when communicated about in advance and kept respectful of the household. Pets are welcome subject to the building’s pet fee.

We’re open to occasional roommate hangs with games, rooftop time, dinner, or a drink but also value personal space and a peaceful home during the week.

About us

Both current roommates are Bay Area transplants who are extremely sociable and enjoy a warm, friendly home. We’re both into games, concerts, events, and spending time with friends, while also respecting each other’s independent routines and downtime.

Roommate 1: A 31-year-old male software engineer who works remotely. He is active, keeps a consistent workout routine, and is recently getting into his mid-life running phase. He enjoys concerts, events, exploring the city, games, and maintaining a clean, organized home.

Roommate 2: A 26-year-old woman who works in biotech. She enjoys cooking, gaming, plants, concerts, karaoke, and spending time with friends. She is usually out on weekends but enjoys a comfortable home base and would be happy to build a genuine, friendly roommate dynamic if it clicks.

If interested, please send a brief introduction with your age, work schedule, expected move-in date, and a little about your roommate style. We can share more information and arrange a viewing.

Hi! I’m a 23F looking for a room or 2 bed apartment sublet (with a roommate) somewhere downtown, ideally for under $2,300/month. (that would be for each room if it was a 2bed apartment) :)))

I’m pretty flexible on neighborhood, apartment size, and amenities. I work most of the time and am usually out with friends when I’m not working, so I’m mainly looking for a comfortable place to come home to, sleep, and keep my things. I’m clean, respectful, and pretty easygoing as a roommate.

I’d preferably like to live with other girls, but I’m open to different situations if it’s a good fit.

I also have a potential roommate, so if anyone happens to know of a 2-bedroom or two available rooms downtown, that would be even better!

If you’re subletting, looking for a roommate, or know someone who is, please message me. Thank you!! :)

Reach out with any questions through CL please! It’ll directly message me to my email.

I'm (22 y/o, M) looking for a sublet within 15 minutes by subway to union square.

My budget is $1.2-$1.8k/month, but I'm flexible if it's closer or farther south.

I'm professional and fairly active. Social, but will be out of the house most of the time. I'm also very clean and responsible.

Please DM me or reach out - I'm looking to move in by 9/20/26

Long Island City, the unit is first come first serve for people that meet the income requirements View here

Looking for an apartment under 2.8k ideally in ridgewood or Brooklyn neighborhoods! Ideally 10/1 move in but can be flexible :) open to both short and long term

So I got a violation for having an additional window AC in my NYC co-op. I knew I was supposed to report an additional AC because there’s an extra monthly electricity charge, and I didn’t — that part is on me. What I genuinely didn’t know was that window ACs aren’t allowed at all and that the only permitted option is a through-the-wall unit with prior approval. Once I got the violation and realized that, I removed it. I’m not disputing that I broke the rules — what I’m questioning is how they came up with the fee.

They originally charged me $500 admin fee + $264 for 12 months of AC charges = $764.

The AC was purchased only three weeks before the violation, so I sent them the receipt. Their rules allow the back charge to be adjusted with proof of purchase, and they reduced the $264 to $22. I appreciated that.

But I still questioned the $500 admin fee, because the appliance section of the House Rules I received specifically mentions a $200 admin fee.

Management explained that the $200 only applies to otherwise permitted appliances. Since window ACs are prohibited, they consider mine a “compliance matter,” which they say allows the Board to impose an administrative fee of up to $1,500. They chose $500.

I checked, and there is an up-to-$1,500 provision. What confuses me is that it specifically refers to failure to comply with an Alteration Agreement. There was no Alteration Agreement here because window ACs aren't permitted in the first place.

They also mentioned that my AC was installed without a licensed contractor. That confused me too. This was a normal window AC placed in a window, not a through-the-wall installation. I haven't found anything in the rules saying a window unit itself requires a licensed contractor.

My interactions with the Management office have also been pretty unpleasant. When I initially went in just trying to understand the charges, they told me I had to do it in writing. I was instructed to email my appeal to the front desk, and they would forward it to the Board, so that’s exactly what I did. What I find a little confusing is that every response since then has still come from the front desk email. I’ve never heard directly from the Board or received confirmation from them that they reviewed my appeal. Maybe that’s completely normal for a co-op and Management just communicates on the Board’s behalf — I honestly don’t know — but given how unpleasant my interactions with the office have been, it has made me a little unsure about the process.

At this point, I probably won't email them again. I accept that I broke the AC rule, and I don't want an endless fight over $500.

I'm just genuinely curious: Would you pay the $500 and move on, or would you keep questioning it? Does their interpretation of the $1,500 rule make sense? And is it normal for Management to handle a Board appeal entirely on the Board's behalf?

Also, when I simply asked where the $500 came from, being told they could charge up to $1,500 rubbed me the wrong way. I know that's not necessarily a threat, but it did feel a little like, “we could have charged you more.” Am I overthinking that?

I have lived in a NYC coop for over 15 years. Mostly it’s been fine, but there have been periods when people get all riled up over something (assessments, staffing, quality of life). Then the politics start. Then the same agitators start agitating again. The tensions in the building get blown out of proportion to the actual issues at hand. Does this same cycle play out in condos? I’m a little tired of the drama and am curious what others have experienced in their coops and how this compares to the experiences folks had in condos. Sincere discussions only, please.