OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
Off-Campus Housing: Finding a Room/ Apartment in New York City
If you were not lucky enough to send your application to the school dorms, you will probably be facing a major concern during your first days in the city: finding suitable housing. Even though there are plenty of options, we’ve got to say that finding a room or apartment in this city is not such an easy task: it requires time, dedication, and lots of patience. Also, if you thought you would find housing on the very first day, we’re sorry to tell you that such is not the case for the majority of students. Throughout this entry, we’ll discuss some of the most important issues when apartment hunting, as well as some tips for you to consider.
A room or an apartment?
You may have this figured out already, but, otherwise, it is important to have determined whether you want to rent an apartment of your own or a room in a shared apartment. Money will be an important factor to do so, since it is always more expensive (and requires more paperwork) to lease an apartment than to rent a room.
In order to rent an apartment, in addition to providing proof of your financial status, you may also be required to submit an application and provide references to account for your reliability. However, as a newly arrived international student you probably have no credit history, which will force you to look for alternative ways to prove that you qualify for getting the lease. You may be asked to provide a guarantor (in the U.S.), who is a person who would provide a statement in which they would agree to pay for your rent in the case that you failed to do so. When you cannot provide a guarantor in the States, some landlords ask you to pay several months in advance as part of the security deposit instead.
Have in mind that some property management companies work through brokers, who usually charge you a fee to get you an apartment (in addition to the security deposit and monthly rent).
Where to look for housing.
A wide variety of options are available to find rooms or roommates. We’ll list some of the most popular websites and alternative options.
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Facebook. In the last few years, Facebook groups have become increasingly popular, in particularly because it is considered to be safer since people have to have a profile which you can use to determine whether the ad is trustworthy. Groups like Housing (within the Columbia community) and Gipsy Housing NY often have posts for available rooms, and sometimes apartments, most often for subleasing from the tenant.
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Craigslist. (ww.craigslist.com). This is not only the most popular ad-posting website, but also one of the most tricky ones, since it is full of scammers (people who want to con you by posting fake ads or sending fake replies to your ads). In Craigslist you can not only look for rooms or apartments, but also for furniture, jobs, appliances, etc. However, as for housing, keep in mind that you must be careful: never mail checks or cash, always set appointments to view the room or apartment before getting to sign any lease, and try to go with a friend if you have the chance.
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Office of Residential Services. Even though they just have limited listings, the Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office at Columbia University may be of help. You can visit their website at: http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/intro-ocha-3
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Admitted Students Roommate Connection (on Facebook). You can ask to join the facebook group to get in touch with other students from Teachers College who are also looking for roommates.
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Roomster (www.roomster.com). This website allows you to most and search through posts that other students have placed.
What area do you want to live in?
If you are new to the city, you will be wondering where it would be best to live. Most students prefer to live in a neighborhood that is close to school; however, this also implies spending a bit more. Morningside Heights is the favorite (and also more competitive) area to find rooms and apartments, since it is the actual location of Teachers College and Columbia University. Rooms are almost always priced above a thousand dollars a month given its convenience. Some other students prefer to save some money, and live a bit further, for example in West Harlem, Hamilton Heights or Washington Heights, which vary in prices and commuting time (from walking distance to 25 minutes subway ride). With respect to safety, it is important to mention that it is quite variable. While most students are advised to avoid some areas (like Central Harlem or the Morningside Park at night), you should always visit the apartment you plan to rent both in the day and at night, to verify how safe it actually is. This is extremely important, particularly since you may sign a lease or sublease for several months or up to a year, and you won’t want to go through the same process again in a short time.
Avoid scam and fraud: be sensible, be cautious, be smart.
Unfortunately, the competitive housing market in NYC makes it perfect for scammers, and more than one has fallen prey of their fake ads, especially online. They will sound convincing and often have stories for why they can’t meet you in person, but you should always be aware of the fact that online dealings are not reliable every time.
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If it looks like a scam, it probably is. Use your common sense, some ads seem perfect to your situation, but in many cases, they just turn out to be looking for your money or personal information. You can always google to see what type of scams are currently out there.
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Set an appointment to see the room/apartment and deal with people in person. Scammers often give excuses not to show you the apartment, whether because they are not “in town” or the like. However, you should never rent a room if you’ve not seen it, and this is one of the basic tenets to have in mind. You may take some safety precautions like going to see the room with a friend, taking your phone with you and so forth.
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NEVER PROVIDE FINANCIAL INFORMATION VIA E-MAIL. Avoid sending checks, money orders or electronic transfers if you have no guarantee (other than the renter’s word) for such transaction.
Things to have in mind.
Finally, we provide you with some last tips that may help you in your apartment search.
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Always read the lease or sublease before you sign it. Make sure every aspect of the rent is clear, such as the utilities, deposits, monthly rent and any extras that may apply.
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Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you’re seeing room or apartment, ask for anything you want to know. The broker or landlord may not be 100% honest, but it’ll help you get a better idea of what you’re getting into. Not only issues concerning the rent, but also the facilities, the neighborhood (and possibly roommates if you’re renting a room in a shared apartment).
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Setting an appointment does not mean that you’ll get the apartment. NYC housing search is pretty competitive, and just like you, many other students and newcomers are looking for a place to stay. Look for different options and invest time on finding suitable locations.
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International House. It is late to apply for I-House for the fall, but they offer housing for international students throughout the year, and are located very close to campus. You have to send an application and also do it early, but some students have considered moving there in the spring.
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Moving to Whittier (TC’s housing) in the spring. Some students graduate in December, and therefore move out from the school dorms. If you would still like to move in, ask to be considered from the fall semester (if you were in the waitlist for this semester, you will be asked if you still want to be considered for the Spring Term). Therefore, you may as well want to look for just a six-month lease if you would still like to move to the dorms, and keep in mind you should apply early to do so.
We hope these tips are useful in your apartment search. We’ll keep you posted with more updates regarding the upcoming orientation.
