Symphony House

Midtown

Symphony House 235 West   56 Street #20M, Manhattan, NY 10019 1

New York City

So, you requested your rental history. DHCR mailed you the record. Now you’re scratching your head. How do I read this rental history? Am I rent-stabilized? Was my apartment legally deregulated?

NYC’s First Rent Stabilization Map

As of June 11, 2025, the FARE Act is officially the law in New York City. Despite some efforts to block it in court, a judge has ruled that enforcement can move forward. That means renters can no longer be charged broker fees if the broker was hired by the landlord.

The FARE Act Is Now In Effect: What Does It Mean for Renters?

Renting an apartment in New York is not easy. Housing is competitive, prices are volatile, and applications are invasive. First-time renters may be overwhelmed by how much information brokers and landlords ask for. At openigloo, we often get messages from renters asking us what’s normal for an NYC rental application checklist, as handing over dozens of personal documents to a stranger feels weird. But rest assured, these kinds of requests are very common.

NYC Rental Application Checklist: 8 Things You Need!

Many renters dread renewal time – and for good reason. Getting huge rent increases is not uncommon in New York City. We get a lot of messages from renters asking us if they should renew or negotiate. We think renters should always try to negotiate their rent. Our position is that you don’t get what you don’t ask for. Keep in mind, if you have a stabilized or Good Cause apartment, you don’t need to worry about steep increases. The law limits how much the landlord can increase the rent. But for everyone else – landlords can increase the rent to whatever they want.

3 Email Templates For When You Want to Negotiate Your Rent

Navigating New York City's rental landscape can be challenging. Especially because not all landlords are the same. Some take a lot of pride in caring for their buildings and renters, while others let violations pile up. Each year, the Office of the Public Advocate releases the "Worst Landlord Watchlist," highlighting property owners who consistently neglect their responsibilities.

2024 Worst Landlords List is Out: How to find out if you’re renting from one of NYC’s worst landlords?

New York’s City Council passed the Fairness in Apartment Rentals Expenses Act (FARE Act) on November 13, 2024. This new policy will have a huge impact on NYC renters who are used to paying exorbitant broker fees when renting an apartment – sometimes 15%+ of the annual rent.

The FARE Act Passed in NYC: What Does It Mean for Renters?

On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, openigloo was invited to testify at City Council about the FARE Act (Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act)...

What We Said At The New York City Council About The FARE Act

openigloo was founded in 2020 to help renters find better apartments and to bring transparency to housing...

6 Ways To Use Openigloo During Your NYC Apartment Search

11 FAQs about Good Cause Eviction in New York City.

What Is Good Cause Eviction? What Does It Mean For New Yorkers?

It’s hard to miss all the sidewalk sheds in New York City. The City’s buildings are covered in scaffolding. We’ve received tons of building reviews from renters on openigloo about how their buildings NEVER take down the scaffolding...

What’s With All The Scaffolding In NYC? 4 Things You Need To Know About Local Law 11

Do you think your apartment is stabilized? Fill out the form, upload your DHCR rental history, and someone from our team will reach out with our assessment.

We get this question at openigloo all the time. Everyone wants to strategize their NYC apartment hunt the best they can. But what is the real answer? Especially since it feels like rents in New York NEVER go down...

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Rent An Apartment In NYC? The Pros And Cons Of Each Season

how much money to rent in New York City does a person need live here? Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering housing options in New York City...

How Much Money Do You Need To Rent In New York City? 4 Things To Know!

Renters in NYC have gotten used to the worst landlord list released by the Office of the New York City Public Advocate every year. By analyzing city data, the Public Advocate presents a list of buildings and landlords with a reputation for having unaddressed violations...

Top 5 (Big) Residential Landlords In NYC 2023

We asked seasoned NYC renters to share their tips when touring a space and these are 8 things they recommended to check when you’re touring an apartment!

NYC Apartment Tour Checklist: 8 Things You Need To Check When Touring A Space

You may have heard of the affordable housing lotteries in NYC. A couple of City agencies run these lotteries to place candidates in buildings across the five boroughs. Typically, real estate developers receive tax abatements and...

What You Need To Know About Affordable Housing Lotteries In NYC

So you just found out you’ll be moving to NYC as an international student! One of the things on your checklist is to figure out housing. Sometimes campus housing offices are helpful, but in a lot of cases...

Rental Guide For International Students Moving To New York City

So, you need a new apartment in New York City. Maybe you know 100% you’re not renewing your lease. Or you just got a job in NYC but it doesn’t start for a few months...

3 Tips For Finding NYC Apartments In Advance. Is It Even Possible?

8 FAQs about rent-regulated apartments in NYC. In NYC you may hear people talking about rent control. It’s a blanket term used all over the world to describe some sort of policy that restricts rent increases on housing. But in NYC it means something a little different. New York City has both rent-controlled and rent-stabilized…

What’s The Difference Between Rent-Stabilized And Rent-Controlled Apartments?

Don’t make these common mistakes if you want to try and get a response from NYC real-estate agents every time! Renting in New York City can be frustrating to say the least. Getting the attention of NYC real-estate agents can be even more of a challenge. They get inundated with requests and emails from renters…

2 Email Templates To Get Replies From NYC Real-Estate Agents

Apartment hunting in New York is no easy task. With high rents, and a competitive rental market, securing and qualifying for an apartment may seem impossible. New and old New Yorkers alike can struggle to keep up with all the changing requirements. At openigloo, we receive tons of questions about the NYC application process. Such…

2 Things You Need To Qualify For A New York City Apartment

Are you a pet owner renting in NYC? If so, you may have some questions about apartment hunting with a furry friend. First things first; landlords ARE allowed to prohibit pets in their buildings, unless they are certified medical or emotional support animals. If you are apartment hunting with a service animal, be sure to…

Pet Rules In NYC: What Renters Need To Know About Pet Fees, Deposits + More

Your questions answered about subletting an apartment, short-term leasing, Airbnb and more in New York City. Subletting is a common practice in New York, where leaseholders rent out their space to other renters for a period of time. There are many reasons a renter may need to sublet. Perhaps they are leaving the City for…

5 Things To Know About Subletting An Apartment In New York City

Learn more about the city's rules with our guide to protect yourself against evictions and lockouts in NYC.

4 Things To Know About Evictions And Lockouts In NYC

You’ve just spent a fortune finding and moving into an apartment, only to find out the heat and hot water is subpar. In New York City, landlords are required to make sure the building and individual apartments have functioning hot water 24/7 and that the heat kicks in when it’s supposed to. Here are 3…

3 Things To Know About Heat & Hot Water Rules in NYC

What is a broker fee? Learn all about New York City broker fees, no-fee apartments, and other FAQs on openigloo’s renter tips and resources.

Broker Fees In NYC: How Does It Work? And Who Pays?

Check out the NYC rental application checklist of the most important documents you need when renting from openigloo.

Learn about effective rent payment guides on what to do when you're late or missed a payment on openigloo tips and resources.

5 Things To Do If You’re Late Or Can’t Pay Rent

There are over 1 million rent-stabilized apartments in NYC. What does it mean to be rent-stabilized? Where are these apartments and how can you find them? Read these tips and narrow your NYC apartment search.

How To Find Out If You Have A Rent-Stabilized Apartment In New York City

2022’s rental market was a rollercoaster. The year started off with a dramatic reversal of the rent discounts seen throughout the pandemic. Manhattan renters in particular navigated double-digit increases sometimes upward of 50% when their leases came up for renewal. Heading into the summer, the usual seasonal uptick coupled with the influx of renters returning […]

openigloo’s 2023 NYC Rental Market Predictions

Renters in NYC have gotten used to the worst landlord list released by the Office of the New York City Public Advocate every year. By analyzing city data, the Public Advocate presents a list of buildings and landlords with a reputation of having unaddressed violations. At openigloo, a marketplace to help renters find quality apartments, […]

Top 5 (Big) Residential Landlords in NYC 2022

What is it, who is eligible, and how to apply? New York City is expensive and apartments are scarce. The city is consistently fighting to make sure enough apartments are being built to keep up with a growing population. The affordable housing lottery is a program aimed to help renters secure affordable housing within the […]

NYC Affordable Housing Lotteries 101

80% of NYC buildings are heated with radiators – and 70% of those households report being chronically overheated. But what are radiators, how do they work, and what do you need to know about them to survive NYC winters? ​​Radiators work by drawing heat from water or steam and use that heat to warm up […]

NYC Radiators: 5 Things You Need to Know

Winter is upon us! That mean’s heat season is in full effect. From October 1 to May 31 every year, landlords are legally obligated to make sure your apartment and building has functioning and sufficient heat. Here are 5 things every new New Yorker should know about the city’s heat season. 1. When the temperature […]

5 Things Every NYC Renter Needs To Know About Heat Season

With millions of renters in the city, and many more moving each year, it's important to go into your apartment hunt armed with the right information. Here are 5 things every new New Yorker should know before renting an apartment.

Moving To New York? 5 Things You Need To Know BEFORE You Rent An Apartment In NYC

While rental markets are competitive and it may seem like you have to race to sign a lease, there is always an opportunity to negotiate. If you’re planning to renew or sign a new lease, here are six tips for scoring the best deals.

6 Tips To Negotiate Your Rent

The last of the COVID-19 renewals are coming up, and renters are still getting stuck with big rent increases, sometimes upward of 50%. For market-rate tenants, here are some email templates to help you get the negotiations started!

On June 21, the NYC Rent Guidelines Board voted in the largest rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments since 2013. The Rent Guidelines Board is responsible for setting the allowable increases on stabilized apartments every year. Leases commencing after October 1, 2022 will experience a 3.25% increase on 1 year renewals and a 5% increase on 2 year renewals.

How to Strategize Your Rent-Stabilized Lease Renewal

Package theft is a common occurrence in NYC. If you don’t have a doorman or a dedicated package room in your building, it’s likely you’ve run into issues receiving mail. So what can you do to protect yourself against stolen mail in NYC?

7 Things You Can Do About Package Theft in NYC

Signing a lease is stressful. But rushing the lease signing process could be a costly mistake. Here are 3 things you should check before signing a lease.

3 Things You Should Check Before Signing a Lease

9 Housing Laws That Every NYC Renter Should Know

Breaking a lease in NYC can be a challenge. The pandemic left 1000s of New Yorkers reconsidering their living arrangements. Here are 3 things you need to know about breaking leases in NYC!

3 Things You Should Know Before Breaking A Lease In NYC

Why is getting security deposits back such a pain?

7 Things Every NYC Renter Should Know About Security Deposits

See how your rent stacks up with openigloo's NYC Rent Calculator. Use the calculator to help with your rent negotiations. You can compare NYC apartments' rent against your neighborhood's average.

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Explore Midtown

235 West 56 Street #20M, Manhattan, NY 10019

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