Any pitfalls of subletting an apartment?
Sep 7th, 2006, 10:42 AM
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Any pitfalls of subletting an apartment?
I will be subletting a lady's apartment in New York City for 1 week. I have only stayed in hotels in the past. I would like to know if there are certain questions I should clear up before the visit. I don't want any surprises on my part and I want to be a good renter on her part. We already covered the obvious - animals, elevator, shower, and non-smoking. We won't have a car, so parking isn't a concern.
Thanks for any suggestions to help this work smoothly?
Barbara
Thanks for any suggestions to help this work smoothly?
Barbara
Sep 7th, 2006, 10:49 AM
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Where is the apartment? What neighborhood? If you can provide this info, I can probably think up some neighborhood-specific questions to ask.
How far is it from the subway?
There's probably a drug store nearby, but I would ask.
Do you need to provide sheets, towels, blankets, pillows?
Are there any considerations with the neighbors? She may not want them to know you are renting the place.
Do you need a special key for the laundry room, or is there even a laundry room?
Does the apartment face the street or the back of the building? If it's on a main cross street, it could be noisy.
Internet access?
A/C?
Cable?
How many beds are in the apartment?
How far is it from the subway?
There's probably a drug store nearby, but I would ask.
Do you need to provide sheets, towels, blankets, pillows?
Are there any considerations with the neighbors? She may not want them to know you are renting the place.
Do you need a special key for the laundry room, or is there even a laundry room?
Does the apartment face the street or the back of the building? If it's on a main cross street, it could be noisy.
Internet access?
A/C?
Cable?
How many beds are in the apartment?
Sep 7th, 2006, 11:12 AM
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Wow, Lizzie... your good!
It's by The Empire State Building on 32nd.
We covered linens, laundry, A/C, cable, kitchen, and beds.
I never thought to ask about neighbors. I do know there is a part time doorman.
Maybe this lady I've never met will become my long lost half-sister, is that the deal?
It's a great location for me and the price is right, so I think we can work out the small stuff. Thanks for the help. Barbara
It's by The Empire State Building on 32nd.
We covered linens, laundry, A/C, cable, kitchen, and beds.
I never thought to ask about neighbors. I do know there is a part time doorman.
Maybe this lady I've never met will become my long lost half-sister, is that the deal?
It's a great location for me and the price is right, so I think we can work out the small stuff. Thanks for the help. Barbara
Sep 7th, 2006, 11:28 AM
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It's a slightly different way to travel
than staying in hotels, but I've grown to prefer it.
Perhaps the one drawback is that you can't pick up the phone and call the front desk for any little thing. Some of the "have to handle on your own" situations I've had are:
The TV won't work -- ended up there were dead batteries in the remote which I needed to go buy. Or the electronics controls are very complex (direct TV you may not be familiar with or something like).
The heat/AC are programmed and I couldn't figure out how to overide the temp control to avoid freezing.
Used up the toilet paper -- ooops, no spare roll. Be prepared.
No one to ask where the nearest drugstore is, or grocery, or whatever. You need to figure it out on your own.
Where does the trash go? And the recycles?
And yes, in many buildings you may need to present yourself as a "guest" or "relative" not as a renter.
than staying in hotels, but I've grown to prefer it.
Perhaps the one drawback is that you can't pick up the phone and call the front desk for any little thing. Some of the "have to handle on your own" situations I've had are:
The TV won't work -- ended up there were dead batteries in the remote which I needed to go buy. Or the electronics controls are very complex (direct TV you may not be familiar with or something like).
The heat/AC are programmed and I couldn't figure out how to overide the temp control to avoid freezing.
Used up the toilet paper -- ooops, no spare roll. Be prepared.
No one to ask where the nearest drugstore is, or grocery, or whatever. You need to figure it out on your own.
Where does the trash go? And the recycles?
And yes, in many buildings you may need to present yourself as a "guest" or "relative" not as a renter.
Sep 7th, 2006, 02:19 PM
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What about restaurants? You might want to ask about nearby restaurants or if she has a stack of takeout menus for you to use.
How about internet access? Will you be able to bring your computer and use it?
How about internet access? Will you be able to bring your computer and use it?
Sep 7th, 2006, 02:52 PM
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Have you details on what type of apartment and building it is (walk-up, elevator, doorman)?
What are the security arrangements for the building?
Who can you contact in case of problems (plumbing, appliances, etc). It is extremely unlikely that this is a legal sublet - so I doubt you can contact the landlord. The person you're renting from has to designate someone else to be responsible on a 24/7 basis and give you landline and mobile phone #s..
Also - you need to know who the legal landlord is - so in case someone turns up demanding entrance you know if it's necesary to let them in.
What are the security arrangements for the building?
Who can you contact in case of problems (plumbing, appliances, etc). It is extremely unlikely that this is a legal sublet - so I doubt you can contact the landlord. The person you're renting from has to designate someone else to be responsible on a 24/7 basis and give you landline and mobile phone #s..
Also - you need to know who the legal landlord is - so in case someone turns up demanding entrance you know if it's necesary to let them in.
