[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/5-things-to-look-out-for-when-signing-a-lease\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/5-things-to-look-out-for-when-signing-a-lease\/","headline":"5 Important Things to Look Out for When Signing a Lease","name":"5 Important Things to Look Out for When Signing a Lease","description":"Moving to NYC is a stressful experience, especially if it\u2019s your first time renting. There\u2019s a lot to […]","datePublished":"2022-02-01","dateModified":"2026-06-14","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/5-Things-to-Look-Out-for-When-Signing-a-Lease.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/5-Things-to-Look-Out-for-When-Signing-a-Lease.jpg","height":1280,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/5-things-to-look-out-for-when-signing-a-lease\/","about":["General"],"wordCount":2169,"keywords":["Lease NYC","moving nyc","moving to nyc","New Apartment","new apartment lease","NYC apartment","NYC apartment lease","nyc new apartment lease","NYC renting","plan on renting in NYC","Renting in NYC","renting NYC","standard leases"],"articleBody":"Moving to NYC is a stressful experience, especially if it\u2019s your first time renting. There\u2019s a lot to consider and research so by the time you get the lease you might be tempted to just skim it. After all, it\u2019s all the same, right? Wrong! There\u2019s a lot of important information in your lease and since this is a legally binding document, you\u2019ll need to take the time to read it over very carefully. Most NYC apartment leases last for about a year and every detail can affect your daily life. From pets to parties, you\u2019ll want to carefully read over the document before you sign. More importantly, there are bad actors out there who will sneak in some hidden fees or tricky language that can lead to serious issues in the future.Yes, it can be daunting to read over a lease, especially if you don\u2019t speak legalese. However, there are a few things you should keep a special eye out for. If you have any questions, ask the broker or landlord to clarify before you sign. This way you can avoid any confusion in the future. Don\u2019t worry about taking your time. If the landlord or broker tries to rush you, consider it a red flag that there might be some hidden language in the lease. If you don\u2019t know what to look out for, ask a parent or friend for their feedback.Below are a few things to look out for when signing a lease,Rent Amount and Due DateYou decided to put a deposit on an apartment for a variety of reasons, but certainly one of the reasons was because it was within your budget. If the rent is $1,600 but you see that the lease says the rent is $1,700, ask. It might be a mistake or it might be that the broker forgot to mention certain fees such as for pets or amenities. The listing price on the ad might also be a \u2018net effective\u2019 price if they are offering a month\u2019s rent for free. A word of advice: don\u2019t give suggestions as to why the rent on the lease is different from the original listed price. Let the broker or landlord explain it to you. From there, you can decide whether their explanation makes sense. If it doesn\u2019t, don\u2019t be afraid to walk away! You don\u2019t want to get stuck paying more than your budget can handle. Average Rent Prices by NYC Neighborhood (2025)NeighborhoodAvg. Rent (1-BR)Avg. Rent (2-BR)Pet FeesNet Effective RentManhattan$5,706$7,041$50\u2013$200Varies by buildingBrooklyn$3,799$4,695$50\u2013$200Varies by buildingQueens$3,311$4,000$50\u2013$200Varies by buildingBronx$3,038$3,600$50\u2013$200Varies by buildingStaten Island$2,500$3,200$50\u2013$200Varies by building On the topic of rent, make sure to check when rent is due. While it will usually be on the first of the month, that\u2019s not always the case. Some places will expect rent payments on the 15th. If you don\u2019t see the information on the lease, ask and make sure that it is added to the lease. Otherwise, they might try to demand payment at random times! You should also check whether there\u2019s a grace period before they consider rent late and see how much they charge for late payments. Some places might not have any grace period at all.Another important thing to consider before signing the lease is whether the apartment is rent-stabilized or not. Always ask during the initial process and if it is, make sure that it is spelled out in the lease. If the lease doesn\u2019t mention rent stabilization, ask about it. The biggest benefit of living in a rent-stabilized apartment is that the building manager and\/or landlord can only increase the rent by a certain percentage if you choose to renew.Terminating and RenewingMore often than not, a lease will end on the date stated on the lease. But that\u2019s not always the case. Some leases might automatically renew unless you give the landlord or building owner written notice. So make sure to see what, if anything, you might need to do if you plan on moving out when the original lease\u2019s terms are up.Speaking of termination, you might need to break your lease early for a variety of reasons so make sure you look for an early termination clause. Some places might allow you to pay an early termination fee, which is typically two months\u2019 rent. If you don\u2019t see anything, ask. In most cases though, you\u2019ll be on the hook for rent until the end of your lease or until the landlord re-rents. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to consider your options carefully before you sign anything.If you know you plan on spending more than a year in the apartment, see if you can negotiate rent increases for the second and third years. This way you know you\u2019ll be locked into a reasonable rate. Some places might even allow you to sign longer leases if you ask! Even if they don\u2019t allow for a multi-year lease, most want to keep good tenants so they might be more open to a longer lease once you have proven yourself during the first year.SublettingThere are a lot of reasons why people sublet their apartments. Maybe they need to take an extended work trip or maybe they are traveling abroad for a few months. Either way, they\u2019re going to be away from their apartment for an extended period of time. Rather than stress about having to pay exorbitant rental fees, many people sublet their apartment to a short-term renter. If you think you will find yourself in a similar situation, you should check your lease for any subletting clauses. Subletting Policies by NYC Borough or Building TypeBorough \/ Building TypeSublet AllowedLandlord Approval RequiredAssignment PolicyMax Sublet DurationManhattan RentalYesYesAllowed12 monthsBrooklyn Co-opNoN\/ANot AllowedN\/AQueens CondoYesYesAllowed6 monthsBronx RentalYesYesAllowed12 monthsStaten Island Co-opNoN\/ANot AllowedN\/A Most standard leases require landlord approval to sublet; however, the landlord can\u2019t withhold consent for no reason. If you\u2019re planning on leaving your apartment early and handing it off to another person, this is called an assignment, not subletting. In this case, the landlord can refuse an assignment, but if they do, you can cancel the lease. When it comes to roommates or significant others, you are allowed to have one additional occupant living with you, even if they aren\u2019t on the lease. With that said, if you already plan on having a roommate or significant other move in with you to your new apartment, ask the landlord for permission beforehand.PetsHaving a pet is a joy, but it\u2019s not always feasible, especially if you plan on renting in NYC. Many apartments do not allow pets, and some buildings have certain restrictions. If you have a pet, you\u2019re basically increasing the difficulty of your rental search. In most cases, it\u2019s easier to find a place that allows cats and other small animals over dogs. Even places that do allow pets may require an initial pet deposit or extra monthly payment to cover any potential damage your pet might cause. These can range from $50-$200 per pet. Your lease will lay out the exact pet policy, so read it carefully if you already own a pet.There might be times when you don\u2019t start off with a pet, but you decide later on that you want to have a companion. If you decide to bring a furry friend into your apartment, make sure you alert your building. So long as pets are allowed in the building and you follow the rules, everything should be fine. Remember that cute puppy will grow up to be a dog. If your building has weight restrictions, you\u2019ll need to take into account their final weight, not their initial one. And, if you have an emotional support pet or service dog, you are allowed to have them in your apartment regardless of what your lease says. You will just have to present the appropriate paperwork.UtilitiesOne of the most common questions landlords and building owners hear is whether utilities are included in the rent. For most New Yorkers, heat and hot water tend to be the two things tenants don\u2019t need to pay for, with the notable exception being electrical heating. While rare, these buildings do exist. In this case, since the heat is connected to your electricity bill, you will have to pay for heat. This could significantly increase your electricity bill up to $200 or even more, depending on how cold those New York winters are. If the listing doesn\u2019t mention electrical heating, take a look at the apartment and look for radiators or metal baseboards. If you\u2019re still not sure, ask. Utilities Typically Included vs. Not Included in NYC ApartmentsUtility TypeIncluded in Rent?Average Monthly CostNotes \/ TipsHeatUsually Yes$0\u2013$200 if electricNYC Heat Law guarantees 68\u00b0F day \/ 62\u00b0F night from Oct\u2013MayHot WaterUsually Yes$0Often included with rent, check the electric heatersElectricityUsually No$50\u2013$150Depends on usage; sometimes included in small buildingsGasUsually No$30\u2013$100Check if the meter is shared between tenantsInternet \/ CableNo$50\u2013$100Set up an account with the provider before movingWater \/ SewerUsually Yes$0Typically included in rent, check the co-op\/condo rules Outside of heat and hot water, you\u2019ll generally be responsible for everything else, including:Cable\/internet – make sure to call the cable company to get your account set upElectric and gas – these usually aren\u2019t included in the rent, though some small landlords might include gas if the meters aren\u2019t separated between tenants. With that said, you will generally have to pay these out of pocket. You will need to call up Con Edison and let them know to set up your accountYour lease will outline what utilities are included in your rent. Once you are living in the apartment, it\u2019s important to know your rights. NYC has something called \u2018Heat Season\u2019 which runs from October 1 to May 31. The NYC Heat Law states that you are entitled to have your apartment kept at certain temperatures during this season. It\u2019s generally 68 degrees during the day if it is below 55 degrees outside. At night (10 pm – 6 am), it is 62 degrees regardless of the outside temperature. This is not something that will appear on your lease, as it is an NYC law. If you\u2019re having consistent issues with heating and hot water, you can sue your landlord if it\u2019s a constant issue. Just make sure to keep a paper trail of your communication. It might be tempting to withhold rent, but it can lead to serious financial ramifications.Sign the LeaseOnce all your questions have been resolved and you feel comfortable, it\u2019s time to sign the lease! Make sure you receive a copy of the lease after signing so you can reference it in case something comes up. You might not receive the keys immediately upon signing, but you should get them within a few days. Congratulations! You are now a proud NYC renter.While the renting process doesn\u2019t necessarily get better, it does get easier as you get more experience. Even if you\u2019ve rented dozens of apartments in the city, you should still take the time to read over the leases carefully each time you move so you don\u2019t end up in a difficult situation. Once you\u2019re ready to move, contact some NYC movers for a stress-free moving experience.FAQDo I need to get renter\u2019s insurance?That\u2019s completely up to you. They landlords insurance does not cover their tenants. So if you have a lot of expensive items, you\u2019ll need to get your own renter\u2019s insurance to protect against fire, theft, and water damage. Some renter\u2019s insurance also roll in liability insurance so if you accidentally start a fire or let a tub or sink overflow you\u2019ll be protected.Can I paint my apartment?Most buildings allow their tenants to paint the apartment as long as they paint it back to the original color (or at least close to it) before they move out. You can always ask the landlord\/building manager if you have any concerns.Can I install an AC Unit?Yes, most places will let you install an AC unit, but you might be limited to how many you can install and where. You cannot install air conditioners on the fire escape for example. In some cases, you might need to hire someone to install it for you. Ask your landlord or super if it\u2019s not spelled out in your lease."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 Important Things to Look Out for When Signing a Lease","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/5-things-to-look-out-for-when-signing-a-lease\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]