Renting an apartment in New York: what to look for in order not to rent a noisy bed bug with aggressive neighbors

In New York, renting an apartment is always done through an agreement with the landlord, and an expensive one at that. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully check the apartment before putting your signature and giving a deposit, advises Brick Underground.

Read on for how to thoroughly check a New York rental apartment.

1. Try to visit the apartment and inspect it in person

If possible, avoid renting an accommodation unless you have physically visited it. By renting a home without a preliminary inspection, you run the risk of becoming a victim of scammers who lure you in with photos of the apartment. And after the conclusion of the lease agreement, it turns out that this is a completely different apartment that does not meet the standards.

If you are using a virtual tour to check apartments, make sure you are working with a reliable broker. And double-check the information provided to you. You can find the location of the apartment on the Internet, as well as the name of the landlord. And find out if such housing actually exists and if there are any negative reviews about it.

If you've been described an apartment with a great view, go to the windows and check that the view matches what you're paying for. Conversely, the closed curtains in a photograph in a rental ad can often mean that there is something not very pleasant outside the window.

2. Don't be led by marketing

If you are considering renting a property in a new luxury development, make sure you can separate reality from advertising. If you are shown a typical apartment, pay attention to the quality of finishes and materials. Think like a buyer - check the apartment just as carefully. Check the builder's track record. Consider whether there are enough electrical outlets, ask about soundproofing. If possible, check it out yourself. Bring a friend and ask if they can come into the (empty) apartment upstairs while you stay downstairs. He should stomp around the apartment so you can see if the noise is spreading.

Make sure the awkward layout isn't masked with artfully crafted furnishings. One of the tricks is to open all the doors. See if you can open the doors of the refrigerator, cabinets, bedroom and bathroom without any problems. In cramped, poorly designed spaces, sometimes opening one door blocks access to others. Some builders go to great lengths by installing shallow kitchen drawers or cabinets, so check that out too.

On the subject: Ceilings are collapsing in a New York apartment building, mushrooms are growing from the walls from moisture, but tenants can do nothing to the landlord

3. Do an evening soundcheck

One of the tips to determine if there are bars or restaurants that may pose a threat to your peace and quiet is to visit the building late in the evening. Perhaps this will not be an obstacle to rent. Street noise can often be reduced with soundproofing, but it's worth knowing what you're getting into.

You should also check to see if there is any construction going on in your area. This can also be a source of noise.

4. You have the right to know about bed bugs

If you've never experienced bed bugs, you wish you had. But anything happens. By law, you have the right to written disclosure of bed bugs in a building when signing a lease. To save yourself some headaches, ask about the building's bed bug history. You cannot be sure that you will get an honest answer, but it does not hurt to show awareness and initiative.

Also check Bed bug registry or New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development website - on them you can find out about infection or poor management of the building.

5. Attitude towards children

Housing discrimination laws prevent real estate agents from discussing whether a building is child-friendly or not. Also, the agent cannot be told if the local schools are good. If you are looking for a place that suits families, you can tell by the size of the apartments and amenities. If the building consists mainly of two-bedroom apartments that are suitable for families and it has an attractive games room, you may have found your option.

You can also talk to the doorman. You may be lucky and he will be talkative. Or visit the building before or after school to see how many families with children live in the building.

6. Pay attention to tourists

When visiting the building, watch out for tourists with backpacks or suitcases. This is a possible sign of an illegal short-term apartment rental.

The city is trying a new approach to crack down on illegal short-term rentals, including a list of buildings where it's prohibited. Ideally, you'd like your house to be on this list so you don't live next to a stag/hen party apartment in New York City.

7. Don't assume that management companies manage all buildings in the same way.

If you're moving into a new building run by the same company, don't assume the experience will be the same. Management companies do not always carry out the same repairs in all their buildings. In addition, there may be differences in staffing and cleanliness in different buildings. In an ultra-competitive rental market, it is possible that costly repairs have been delayed.