There’s no doubt that COVID-19 shook the world. New York was one of the hardest hit, leaving residents concerned about their health and job security. Many New Yorkers who lost their jobs are also experiencing housing anxiety. How can you rent an apartment if the pandemic left you unemployed? First, it’s critical to know that you’re not alone. New York City’s unemployment rate reached 20.4% in June 2020. That’s twice the number during the peak of the great recession in 2009. The rental market responds with rent concessions and drastically lower rents, making life in the city more affordable. However, during an unemployment crisis, it doesn’t make renting a new apartment any easier. But it is possible when armed with some essential knowledge. Here’s how to rent an apartment without a job.

Manhattan Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

West Harlem

408 West 130th Street

$2,429 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

315 East 108th Street

$2,190 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

16 West 119th Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

328 East 6th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

414 East 11th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

629 West 170th Street

$2,146 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

188 Avenue A

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Chinatown

13 Ludlow Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Upper West Side

320 West 96th Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

946 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

448 West 55th Street

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

1796 Third Avenue

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

West Harlem

408 West 130th Street

$2,429 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

315 East 108th Street

$2,190 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

16 West 119th Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

328 East 6th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

414 East 11th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

629 West 170th Street

$2,146 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

188 Avenue A

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Chinatown

13 Ludlow Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Upper West Side

320 West 96th Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

946 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

448 West 55th Street

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

1796 Third Avenue

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

West Harlem

408 West 130th Street

$2,429 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

315 East 108th Street

$2,190 No Fee

1 |

1

How to Get an Apartment Without a Job? Secure a Guarantor

Pre-pandemic, a landlord would ask for a guarantor if someone couldn’t prove income or had terrible credit, says Becki Danchik of Warburg Realty. It still holds in the current market.

“It might not be the most convenient or comfortable way for someone to rent an apartment, but it’s one of the most effective,” she said. And there are two ways to go about finding one. 

1. Use a Personal, Tri-State Guarantor

“The guarantor would be someone whose income is a bare minimum of 80 times the monthly rent,” said real estate agent Bill Kowalczuk. “For example, if an unemployed person is looking at a rent of $3,000 per month, the guarantor would need to make a minimum of $240,000 a year and have excellent credit and low debt. When it comes to how to rent an apartment without a job, if you know someone who meets those requirements and lives in the tri-state area, ask them if they’d be willing to act as your guarantor.

2. Use a Third-Party Guarantor

If you don’t have someone local who meets the guarantor requirements, companies like Insurent will act as one. “To use a guarantor company, usually you have to pay a fee of about two months rent,” said Kowalczuk. “Companies like these typically guarantee rent payments. But, there’s a catch. You need stellar credit.”

Brooklyn Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Fort Hamilton

338 96th Street

$1,315 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

482 Tompkins Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

1371 Saint John’s Place

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

377 Jefferson Avenue

$1,999 No Fee

Studio |

1

Brownsville

142 Bristol Street

$1,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Sunset Park

322 61st Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

187 Rochester Avenue

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2282 East Seventh Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Gravesend

8700 25th Avenue

$1,899 No Fee

1 |

1

Kensington

435 Ocean Parkway

$2,440 No Fee

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1

Brighton Beach

3031 Brighton 14th Street

$1,775 No Fee

Studio |

1

Borough Park

1042 45th Street

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort Hamilton

338 96th Street

$1,315 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

482 Tompkins Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

1371 Saint John’s Place

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

377 Jefferson Avenue

$1,999 No Fee

Studio |

1

Brownsville

142 Bristol Street

$1,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Sunset Park

322 61st Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

187 Rochester Avenue

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2282 East Seventh Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Gravesend

8700 25th Avenue

$1,899 No Fee

1 |

1

Kensington

435 Ocean Parkway

$2,440 No Fee

1 |

1

Brighton Beach

3031 Brighton 14th Street

$1,775 No Fee

Studio |

1

Borough Park

1042 45th Street

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort Hamilton

338 96th Street

$1,315 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

482 Tompkins Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

1 |

1

How to Get an Apartment Without a Job? Get a Credit Letter 

If you saved substantially for a rainy day and can’t meet the apartment’s income requirements, you could set up a credit letter with a bank. In a nutshell, it guarantees that a tenant’s rent payments will be received on time and for the correct amount. In this example, it pays to have savings regarding how to get an apartment without a job.

“If the tenant is unable to make a payment on the rent, the bank will be required to cover the full or remaining amount of the rent,” said Kowalczuk. “The tenant supplies the bank with the full year’s rent, which is held by the bank, similar to a typical security deposit. The tenant would still be required to pay the monthly rent. The money held by the bank is used if the tenant is unable to pay the rent for any particular month. At the end of the lease, the leftover funds are returned to the tenant.”

According to agent Jeremy Kamm of Warburg Realty, another similar option is to secure a personal loan. “You could use a personal loan to cover the costs of living while unemployed and using those funds as proof of funds for a landlord,” he noted. “That being said, it may be challenging to secure a personal loan right now, and the interest fees might be very high.”

Queens Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Jamaica

92-29 Guy Brewer Boulevard

$2,211 No Fee

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1

Jamaica Hills

164-20 Highland Avenue

$1,728 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

25-86 48th Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kew Gardens

131-11 Kew Gardens Road

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

28-28 35th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-45 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-73 Steinway Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

Fresh Meadows

69-01 197th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

99-34 67 Road

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Forest Hills

99-34 67 Road

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy R Brewer Boulevard

$2,057 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy Brewer Boulevard

$2,211 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica Hills

164-20 Highland Avenue

$1,728 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

25-86 48th Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kew Gardens

131-11 Kew Gardens Road

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

28-28 35th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-45 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-73 Steinway Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

Fresh Meadows

69-01 197th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

99-34 67 Road

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Forest Hills

99-34 67 Road

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy R Brewer Boulevard

$2,057 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy Brewer Boulevard

$2,211 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica Hills

164-20 Highland Avenue

$1,728 No Fee

Studio |

1

Don’t Forget Unemployment Benefits

Just because you lost your job doesn’t mean you have no source of income. Unemployment benefits max out at $504 a week in NYC, and it’s more than $600 in New Jersey, meaning you could have around $2,000 or more before taxes to spend. And as of July 2020, a law was signed that provides additional unemployment insurance. You can refer to the U.S. Department of Labor for the latest regarding Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

UPDATE: As of September 5, 2021, several federal unemployment benefit programs across the states will expire. Please check with your local unemployment office for more information.

Bronx Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

417 East 135th Street

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

University Heights

2170 University Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Highbridge

917 Ogden Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

2 |

1

Concourse

1504 Sheridan Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2157 Wallace Avenue

$1,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$2,312 No Fee

1 |

1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$1,985 No Fee

Studio |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

3103 Fairfield Avenue

$2,063 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

417 East 135th Street

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

University Heights

2170 University Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Highbridge

917 Ogden Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

2 |

1

Concourse

1504 Sheridan Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2157 Wallace Avenue

$1,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$2,312 No Fee

1 |

1

Concourse

299 East 161st Street

$1,985 No Fee

Studio |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

3103 Fairfield Avenue

$2,063 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

How to Get an Apartment Without a Job? Find a Roommate

If you’re having trouble securing an apartment on your own, consider finding a roommate. Apply for an apartment with a friend (or two) who perhaps are in a better financial situation than you. That way, your combined income could meet the landlord’s requirements. 

If you don’t have potential roommates lined up to share the cost, plenty of online services like Share a Room or Roomi have listings of people looking for roommates. Another option is to find someone subletting a vacant room in an already leased apartment on these sites or Craigslist. 

Staten Island Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Grasmere

133 Fayette Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

2 |

1

Saint George

53 Montgomery Avenue

$2,245 No Fee

Studio |

1

Rossville

44 Gunton Place

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Saint George

218 Westervelt Avenue

$1,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,460 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,447 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,447 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,413 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,413 No Fee

Studio |

1

Port Richmond

28 Floyd Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Clifton

854 Bay Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

New Springville

27 Arielle Lane

$1,699 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Grasmere

133 Fayette Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

2 |

1

Saint George

53 Montgomery Avenue

$2,245 No Fee

Studio |

1

Rossville

44 Gunton Place

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Saint George

218 Westervelt Avenue

$1,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,460 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,447 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,447 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,413 No Fee

Studio |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,413 No Fee

Studio |

1

Port Richmond

28 Floyd Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Clifton

854 Bay Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

New Springville

27 Arielle Lane

$1,699 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Grasmere

133 Fayette Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

2 |

1

Saint George

53 Montgomery Avenue

$2,245 No Fee

Studio |

1

Consider Renting in a Co-Op

Although it’s not a tried and true method, some experts believe co-ops might be more lenient about renter restrictions given the market and economic climate. “I could see how some of the smaller buildings might be willing to take a chance on the tenant since the responsibility is on the shareholder,” said broker Becki Danchik.  

Apply For Cash Assistance or Rental Relief Programs

Not surprisingly, government agencies are recognizing that COVID-19 created an unprecedented crisis. Even the safety nets in place for residents weren’t enough. In response, additional programs were formed recently to help New Yorkers. These programs could help unemployed residents looking to rent an apartment. 

1. Cash Assistance Program

The Human Resources Administration is providing emergency cash grants to help you pay for rent and other necessities. Certain documents will be needed to apply.

2. COVID Rent Relief Program

The state set up the COVID Rent Relief Program to help households facing an increase in rent burden due to a loss of income during the pandemic. However, it ended. As of June 1, 2021, a new federally-funded rental assistance program opened. If you’re seeking help, please reach out to New York State’s Emergency Assistance Program (ERAP). It is important to note that the rental assistance grant from ERAP does not have to be repaid.