This is what you need to prepare when renting an apartment in New York City:
Required Documents:
• Copy of photo ID and Visa for all tenants
• Bank statement in English ( full name /account no. /statement)
• Employment letter in English ( position / yearly income / date of employment stated with the company on company letterhead)
• Entry admittance letter in English from School (For student)
Sometimes required:
• Landlord letter (letter from current landlord that states the rent and dates you have been living in the apartment)
• Reference letter (letter from a friend, colleague or employer)
If you have been living in the US, you need the following addtional documents:
• Copy of tax returns (the last 2 years if possible)
• Copy of pay stubs (the last 3 months if possible)
Initial fees required at lease signing:
• Application fee: $0 – $200
• Credit check fee: $50 – $100
• If you choose to live in a condominium there is a Condominium Fee: $500 – $2000
• Security deposit
• Rent
• Broker fee
NOTE: These fees cannot be paid by credit card.
Generally, you must provide a money order that you can get from the post office or a certified check or bank check that you can get from the bank.
All payments must be in US dollars.
Wire transfer
If you have US bank account already, please allow 2 to 5 business days for the wire transfer to be completed. (this depends on the bank / please contact your bank to find out how many days it takes to send/receive a wire transfer)
If you are going to open a bank account after arriving in the US some local Japanese banks require time to register for wire transfers to your new US bank account. This means you need to wait until your Japanese bank registers with your new US bank in order to complete a wire transfer.
NOTE: You cannot move in to your new apartment until you pay the required fees, so ensure that you have a few days before you want to move in, in order to pay your fees by wire transfer.
You can wire transfer the approximate amount to your lawyer’s escrow account or real estate company’s escrow account in advance.