Securing summer internship housing in New York City can be a challenge owing to the city’s size and popularity in the summer, and its constricted housing supply. Also, housing scams are prevalent! Making a plan and using trusted tools can help you attain a cozy and budget-friendly residence for the duration of your internship. HousingPanda has created this handy guide to help you find a great summer apartment for your NYC internship:
Competition is Fierce!
Plenty of summer interns, students and even tourists will be on the hunt for accommodations in NYC over the summer, so starting your search a few months ahead can help you land a better place.
What’s Your Housing Budget?
New York City is renowned for its high cost of living, making it important to prepare to spend on housing. Decide on the amount you can allocate towards rent monthly, taking into account additional outlays like utilities, groceries, and transportation. Most interns strive to secure accommodations ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 per month, though this range may fluctuate significantly based on the neighborhood and amenities available.
Choose Your Neighborhood Carefully
The metropolis of New York City is divided into five large boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—each with distinctive neighborhoods. When deciding on your residential area, take into account elements like walking time and distance to your internship’s office, availability of public transportation, safety levels, and surrounding conveniences such as grocery stores, restaurants and parks. Areas such as Astoria in Queens and Williamsburg in Brooklyn garner favor among young working adults and interns due to their reasonable cost of living and lively atmosphere. Midtown and Meatpacking District are convenient choices for interns who work in Manhattan.
Evaluate Your Summer Housing Choices
Numerous housing alternatives exist for summer interns in New York City (which is why we created our website for helping people host and rent medium-term apartments, all in once place).
- University Residences: Several local universities, like New York University and Columbia University, provide summer accommodation for interns, regardless of student status. But these furnished pads go fast, and they’re often very spare without many amenities.
- Sublets: Renting an apartment temporarily from an individual who is absent during the summer can provide a budget-friendly alternative. Platforms such as our very own HousingPanda.com is great for peer-to-peer medium-term rentals. Beware of listings on platforms like Craigslist and Facebook groups because scammers create fraudulent listings every day trying to lure unsuspecting summer interns and visitors. Even Airbnb has struggled with fake listings.
- Renting a room in a shared apartment presents a savvy opportunity to cut down on expenses. HousingPanda allows hosts to offer shared apartments and shared rooms, as well as entire apartments for rent.
- Short-term Rental Platforms: Websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo provide short-term rental options that could be appropriate for a summer getaway, albeit potentially more expensive. However NYC has restricted short term rentals, so you’ll need to filter for stays longer than one month.
- Leverage Social Networks and Internet Sources: Never undervalue the influence of your connections. Connect with friends, family, and professional acquaintances residing in the area or who may have connections there. They can provide invaluable guidance or potential leads on housing options. Furthermore, participating in online intern communities can offer valuable insights and chances for communal living arrangements.
- Transportation Considerations: Take into account the closeness of your residence to public transportation. The subway and bus network in NYC can transport you to nearly any location in the city in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Estimate the duration of your journey to your internship location and incorporate this into your housing selection. Using a tool like Google Maps can help you estimate commute times.
- Get Ready for the Challenge: The competition for summer housing in NYC is fierce, so be ready to respond swiftly once you discover a suitable choice. Ensure that your paperwork (ID, internship confirmation, recommendations, and deposit funds) are all set for quick action.
- Prioritize safety as the top concern when searching for housing. Conduct thorough research on neighborhoods, inspect properties firsthand whenever feasible, and rely on your intuition. If a listing or agreement raises any red flags, continue your search elsewhere. The team at HousingPanda carefully verifies listings as well as renters to ensure fair dealings and happy guests and hosts.
Good luck in your summer internship venture in the iconic city of New York! The team here at HousingPanda is rooting for you!
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