Student Housing In New York City

Throughout July and August, New York City is awash with students looking for a place to call home. Some Universities offer a wide range of housing options. New York University for example, has developed arrangements with landlords around the city to provide student housing at a reduced rate or through the University Housing Office. Other schools either don’t offer any housing options or don’t have enough student housing to handle their enrollment numbers.

The first stop on any student’s search should be their housing office. The housing office can provide details on the options available to students (if any) as well as assistance in financing housing. Many also have a list or data base of student friendly landlord’s close to school.

If you have your heart set on living off campus and renting privately, you need to understand that being a student makes your quest even more difficult in a City that is already notoriously difficult to find affordable housing. Landlords often see students in the “Animal House” sense and are extremely worried about damage, hassle to other residents, and inability to pay the rent.

The first question that a landlord will have for a student is simply “how will you pay your rent?” Many students want to find a place, find a roommate (or three), and then find a job. This simply will not be acceptable for landlords. Landlords will not take a chance on someone who plans on getting a job after they have a place to live. They also don’t want a large number of roommates (unless the property has many bedrooms). It is therefore essential that you look at covering in the rent in the same way that the landlord does. They want the least number of people with the strongest financial position. Most students will have to provide either:

· Proof of employment with salary that covers the rent
· A roommate whose salary covers the rent
· Proof of housing grants or student loans that will cover the rent
· A guarantor who will pay the rent.

If you do not have a position, roommate, or grants that will cover the rent, you will be required to have a guarantor. Because of the financial requirements of a guarantor, it is often easier to have a parent rent the apartment in their own name and then list you as an occupant.

Many students find that, if possible, staying in student housing for the first semester or even year, while they are getting to know the city and finding a job, is the most practical way to approach living in New York City.

For help and advice on finding a "no fee" apartment in New York City, check out The Nouveau Native's No Fee New York which provides over 100 landlords in Manhattan!

originally posted July 23, 2006