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What is Good Cause Eviction? What Does it Mean for New Yorkers?
11 FAQs about Good Cause Eviction in New York City. Good Cause Eviction is a piece of legislation that passed in New York in April 2024. The law went into effect immediately and limits rent increases on market-rate apartments and entitles tenants to a lease renewal if they uphold the terms of their lease (i.e.…
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What’s with All the Scaffolding in NYC? 4 Things You Need to Know About Local Law 11
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. Their views and sunlight are perpetually obstructed by these ugly metal installations. The reason this happens is…
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NYC’s First Rent Stabilization Map
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 landlords are required to self-report rental data to DHCR every year. However, DHCR rarely confirms if the data is accurate, leaving renters on…
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7 Things Every NYC Renter Should Know About Security Deposits
Why is getting security deposits back such a pain in NYC? openigloo has received thousands of reviews from renters complaining that they had to fight tooth and nail to get their security deposit back. It shouldn’t take months and hundreds of emails to get the money back that belongs to you. While 70% of openigloo users have…
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What is the best time of year to rent an apartment in NYC? The pros and cons of each season
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. The reality is that the best time to rent an apartment depends on your priorities. Do…
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How Much Money Do You Need to Rent in New York City? 4 Things to Know!
Living and renting in New York City is not easy. It’s increasingly unaffordable, and wage growth just hasn’t kept pace with rent increases. But that fact alone isn’t enough to keep people from NYC. If we know one thing for sure, it is that people will always flock to New York for school, work, art,…
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Top 5 (Big) Residential Landlords In NYC 2023
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. At openigloo, a marketplace to help renters find quality apartments,…
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NYC Apartment Tour Checklist: 8 Things You Need to Check When Touring a Space
Touring an apartment is an important step in the renting process. NYC apartment hunting is stressful, so many tenants find themselves rushing through the steps. We’ve heard from tons of renters who wished they spent more time inspecting the apartments they were considering. It is the worst feeling to spend a gazillion dollars, go through…
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Broker Fees in NYC: How Does It Work? And Who Pays?
Broker fees are almost always a cause of confusion and frustration for New York City renters. So, what is a broker fee? It’s a fee you pay to the agent or broker who is managing the listing. In New York City, renters are responsible for paying this fee, even if they did not explicitly choose…
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What You Need to Know About Affordable Housing Lotteries in NYC
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 other incentives to allocate a percentage of their new buildings to affordable housing. Units in the lottery are rent-stabilized…
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