best way to advertise apt (lease break/takeover)

First make sure that you have the "new " rent, sometimes with lease breaks the LL will want an increase from the new tenant. I would also post it on StreetEasy and give the listing to all the large firms as an open listing that they can advertise with the understanding that you are not paying the fee.

I would also continue with craigslist, post in the morning around 8:30 and try posting around 4pm.

Sounds like you may be in a building that is a bit off the grid, maybe a Rockrose or TF Cornerstone?

craigslist is the logical place, but it's pretty crowded -- have you tried the New York Times?

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

give the listing to a broker but don't pay them the commission... you can list it with companies like Mark David (mine), Citi Habitats, etc...I have been able to rent out every apartment I have with the tenant paying the fee... unless you have a terrible deal I can't imagine you would have much difficulty.

the reason brokers can rent it out sometimes over tenants is because we have multiple streams of referral sources. People call me because of referrals, I have ads going for similar apartments, I advertise on streeteasy, nytimes, naked apartments, etc... you're not just fishing with one pole, brokers have fish coming to them. :)

Thanks to all for the advice. I just posted an ad for it here on streeteasy http://streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/694925-rental-230-west-55th-st-10019-times-square-new-york

The thing is my building said they only allow the in house brokers to rent out the apartments so I'm not sure what would happen if I let another broker rent it out and charge the commission to the new renter. Take a look at my ad and let me know what you think.

Thanks

cm1234,

My thoughts:

- Advertise on the short-term rental section of Craigslist as well.
- Your $3200 rent is not really a good deal, certainly not good enough for someone to deal with the awkward circumstances (i.e., a 4-month sublet followed by the whims of the management company).
- You should have put a short-term rental Craigslist ad for $2500, and you should have just said "OK" to the 1 month fee the in-house brokers were asking.

You seem not to place any value on the difference between people renting something on their own terms (longer lease, starting when they want, etc.) and your terms (4-month lease starting exactly on Oct 1). Stated another way, the owners of that $3200 unit allocate some cost associated with turning the apartment over: time that it takes to find a tenant, cost of acquiring a tenant, etc.. You have placed this cost at $800, or 1 week rent with no cost associated with marketing (e.g., paying the brokers). The real cost of this is probably closer to $3200.

In a nutshell, I think your miscalculation is that just because you're paying $3200, the proper rent for a 4-month sublet is around $3200.

CM124 - is your sublet still available?

You can try leasebreak.com. Seems to be the new resource for this kind of situation. Or, if you know an agent, you can see if they will take the listing perhaps.

I'm about to sign a lease, but know I will need to vacate and break the lease in six months. Are there any specific clauses I can put into my lease to ensure I don't have any issues? Ie landlord allows tenant to advertise apartment for a lease takeover starting in 6 months from execution of this agreement with no added fees? Maybe tenant should agree to pay for every day of rent where there's no tenant there?

I think you take on a big risk assuming the landlord will help you market the apartment in 6 mo. If they have any vacant units they will market their own units first.

I think you're taking a big risk in signing a legal contract to pay a year's rent, with an advance plan to break that contract. Better you ensure that you have the right to sublet the unit during the contract term, and that the future tenant be eligible for a renewal at the going rate. By definition in the lease, the tenant MUST pay for every day of rent during the contract period, regardless of whether they are there or not. Therefore the landlord has no motivation to help you fill the place. you should probably beg for a 6 month lease, and suck up the extra $$ the landlord will charge you.