You’re on the NYC apartment hunt, and you’ve found a place you really like. You’re ready to make it your new home. Great! But learning how to rent an apartment in NYC can be overwhelming for newcomers. You may be asking yourself, “What do I need to rent an apartment in NYC?” If you’re prepared ahead of time, you can apply for the apartment of your dreams at a moment’s notice. From paperwork to fees, read on to find out how to prepare for apartment hunting in NYC.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,200 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Ocean Hill

11 Gunther Place

$2,500

1 |

1

Flatbush

706 East 32nd Street

$2,962

2 |

2

Bushwick

166 Harman Street

$3,000

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

420 Bainbridge Street

$3,000

3 |

2

Bushwick

340 Evergreen Avenue

$2,650

Studio |

1

Brighton Beach

2733 East 12th Street

$2,700

1 |

1

Bushwick

127 Cornelia Street

$2,979

2 |

2

Brighton Beach

2733 East 12th Street

$2,925

2 |

1

Brighton Beach

125 Brighton 11th Street

$2,350

Studio |

1

Homecrest

2442 Ocean Avenue

$2,495

Studio |

1

Midwood

3009 Avenue I

$2,499

1 |

1

Flatbush

310 Lenox Road

$2,400

Studio |

1

What Do I Need to Rent an Apartment in NYC?

Once you find an apartment you’re interested in renting, it’s time to put together an application. Submitting a formal application is the most common way to rent an apartment in NYC. While different landlords and brokers may require different or extra information, you should have some key pieces ready. Here’s a general checklist:

• Employment verification letter, including your job title, job functions, salary, and length of employment — signed and on company letterhead
• Paystubs — the three most recent
• Bank statements — the three most recent
• Federal tax return including your W2 or 1099 form
• Copies of two forms of photo ID
• Application fee ($20)

Landlords also may ask for the following. 

• Recommendation letter from a prior landlord
• Summaries of savings accounts and liquid assets
• Copy of your social security card
• Proof of past rent payments

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,200 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Sutton Place

226 East 59th Street

$3,150

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

235 East 60th Street

$2,950

1 |

1

Hudson Heights

175 Pinehurst Avenue

$2,765

1 |

1

Morningside Heights

1270 Amsterdam Avenue

$3,200

2 |

1

Yorkville

441 East 83rd Street

$2,700

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

145 West 138th Street

$2,895

2 |

1

Morningside Heights

1268 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,500

Studio |

1

East Village

214 East 10th Street

$2,975

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

515 East 78th Street

$2,526

Studio |

1

Yorkville

1570 First Avenue

$3,000

Studio |

1

Lincoln Square

2020 Broadway

$2,800

Studio |

1

East Village

227 East 11th Street

$3,163

Studio |

1

Why Do Renters Need Bank Statements & Other Documents?

It’s a lot to pull together! But landlords need to know that you’ll be able to pay your rent every month. Generally speaking, the more proof you can show of your stable income or assets, the higher chance you’ll have of getting the apartment.

When researching how to apply for an apartment in NYC, you’ll probably come across the “40 times the rent” rule. Landlords like to see that renters are making an annual income of 40 times the monthly rent. If you’re a new employee and haven’t worked previously, though, don’t panic. Steven Irizarry, a licensed real estate salesperson at SERHANT and StreetEasy Expert, says you can forgo the paystubs as long as you can prove you are working with a letter of employment from your company. You may also need a guarantor to secure the apartment.

What NYC Renters Need To Know About Broker Fees

As of June 11, 2025, the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act has taken effect in NYC, making broker fees the responsibility of the party who hires the broker — which, in most cases, is the landlord or property manager. You can still hire your own broker to represent you and help you find a rental, in which case you’d pay them a broker fee for the services you hired them to do. But the FARE Act ensures NYC renters only pay a broker fee when they explicitly hire the broker to represent them.

In addition, the FARE requires every listing on StreetEasy to disclose all tenant fees (one-time and recurring) in the listing description — so you’ll want to refer to this section of a listing to stay informed of any costs and fees you may be asked to pay.

Do I Need To Pay An Application Fee?

You might. But, per the Statewide Housing Security and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, apartment application fees cannot exceed $20 (this does not usually apply to renting in condo or co-op buildings).

It would be best if you also had the first month’s rent and security deposit ready and available once you’ve applied for a unit. Not being able to pay the required fees and deposits in a timely manner could cause you to lose the apartment.

Queens Rentals Under $3,200 on StreetEasy Article continues below

East Flushing

191-08 Station Road

$2,599

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

82-67 Austin Street

$2,595

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

954 Seneca Avenue

$3,000

3 |

2

Forest Hills

102-35 64 Road

$2,500

1 |

1

Long Island City

38-07 27th Street

$2,700

2 |

1

Woodhaven

89-08 91st Street

$2,400

2 |

2

Rego Park

65-38 Austin Street

$1,925

Studio |

1

Astoria

29-24 30th Avenue

$2,600

1 |

1

Flushing

41-25 Kissena Boulevard

$1,700

Studio |

1

Astoria

49-02 28th Avenue

$2,500

1 |

1

Ridgewood

60-39 Grove Street

$3,000

3 |

1

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,700

1 |

1

What To Bring When Apartment Hunting in NYC

When apartment hunting in NYC, the most important thing to remember is to have everything ready to put in an application at a moment’s notice. Good rentals can fly off the market fast, and the last thing you want is to lose an apartment you love because you didn’t have a copy of your tax returns on hand or a letter from your employer. And just as important, make sure your documents are signed in instances where a signature is required.

Keep all of your documents in one place, preferably a secure one where you can decide who has access to it. Don’t hesitate to verify the people to whom you are sending documents before you do so. You may want to redact sensitive information like account numbers on bank statements.

In a nutshell, make sure you’ve got what you need to rent an apartment in NYC ready to go, so you can secure a unit you love ASAP. The more prepared you are, the better chance you have of landing your dream apartment.