Thousands of New Yorkers decide on getting roommates when they choose to save money on rent. If you’re a native New Yorker, you might have a buddy you’re willing to room with. But, if you are new to town, you will need to find a roommate. Luckily, NYC has plenty of roommate-finding websites.
How do I find a roommate in NYC?
The best way to find a roommate in New York City is to room with someone you know well—such as a friend, colleague, or relative. If you are going to school, ask for a roommate matching service through the school.
If you don’t know anyone but want to get a roommate, that’s okay. Online services and apps can offer a great way to meet a roommate in a pinch.
Is it hard to find a roommate in NYC?
Yes and no. Finding a roommate in New York is easy as long as you vet properly. The harder part is finding a roommate that you truly mesh well with.
Best Sites to Find NYC Roommates
- Padmapper
- Craigslist
- RoomieMatch
- Bungalow
- Roomi
- RentHop
- Perfect Strangers of NYC
- RoomMatch
- Roomies.com
Padmapper
Not sure if you want to stay in New York for too long? Want to have a bit of flexibility in your real estate search? If you want to find a room that’s close to work, Padmapper might be a good site for you to check out. Everything is location-based.
The good thing about this site is that you can search by location, find rooms for rent, and reach out to multiple listings with the click of a button. However, it does host a lot of Airbnb listings. So, if you are looking for a temporary thing, here is your pick.
Craigslist
Like it or hate it, Craigslist remains a mainstay among people who want a roommate situation. It has its dangers and can be sketchy, but it still works reasonably well. If you are looking for a roommate here, the good news is that you can keep your interactions anonymous until the actual meetup.
Though there are definite risks involved here, the truth is that Craigslist is a good place for people who want a hidden bargain.
RoomieMatch
Let’s face it. Finding a roommate often feels like dating. You want to be able to feel out your potential match before you sign on the dotted line. If you are tired of scammers, you might want to try RoomieMatch.
This site is human-moderated and comes with many safeguards against fake ads and roommates. If you have been burned by a scam before, this is an excellent site to help you feel safer.
Bungalow
If you like the look and feel of startup-led roommate finding services, you might prefer Bungalow. Bungalow lets you search for rooms for rent, complete with information on the ideal roommate that the original renter is looking for.
If you have a spare room you want to rent out, you can offer details on the type of person you want to have living with you. This helps pare down the number of renters who aren’t compatible with your lifestyle and hopefully find the right person for you.
Roomi
Are you tired of feeling like every moment you reach out to a roommate is a gamble? Have you heard one too many horror stories about roommate scams online? Roomi might be one of the best websites to find a NYC-based roommate for you.
Roomi is a site that boasts a pre-vetted community that’s verified as legitimate. They have strict rules to abide by, and you can search by apartment and roommate. So if you want to get a roommate fast, this is a smart and safe way to do it.
RentHop
RentHop is one of the most popular rental apps on the market, especially when you’re talking about New York City. There are tons of listings for both whole apartments and rooms for rent. This is an ideal way to find a home in your budget that suits your lifestyle.
The big draw here isn’t just the many ways you can search for an apartment. It’s also the sheer number of listings. It’s a goldmine—and one that is regularly updated, too. So if you’ve been hoppin’ mad about the state of roommate hunting, it may make sense to do RentHop.
Perfect Strangers of NYC
Most of the sites and apps mentioned so far are national establishments. You can use Craigslist or RentHop almost anywhere and have decent luck. The same cannot be said about Perfect Strangers of NYC. This hyper-local site is all about connecting on a neighborly level.
This site is one of the only ones to involve the use of a real-life human matchmaker to help you find the best possible roommate. The site is known for letting you “sniff out” your roommates and actually talk to them for a while before you move. It’s a good thing in a scary city!
Roommatch
Though it’s not the techiest site, Roommatch has pretty decent reviews when it comes to helping you find a roommate who can split the rent. In a lot of ways, it looks like a dating site. You see profile pics, budgets, and the type of industry a roommate works for there.
From the profile pic, you can click to see if they have a room for rent or if you would want to pair up with them. You can chat via the mobile app and check out some local meetups. It is a pretty supportive community.
Roomies.com
Finally, another good option for finding that perfect roommate in New York City is a site like Roomies.com. This site is free to surf, communicate, and list properties. If you have multiple roommate needs, then you can make it happen pretty easily.
This site tends to have a lot of people who want a very similar lifestyle. Most of the people on here are fairly upfront about what they want and what they can afford. If you are willing to do some digging, this site could be a great place for your next roommate.
How Can You Find a Safe Roommate?
There are a lot of scams and dangerous people out in the middle of NYC’s rental listings. You owe it to yourself to learn safety skills. These tips can help you find a safe roommate:
- Use a platform with some semblance of screening if you’re very worried. While this is not a guarantee of safety, it does mean that you will be less likely to fall for a scam. Sites with verified users tend to be the safest.
- Check to see if the place in question is actually for rent. Search up the owner’s name if you can. If the “owner” you met doesn’t match the name there, it may be a scam.
- Don’t agree to any roommate situation until you’ve met them in person and toured the apartment. This is a must, both for personal safety and for your finances.
- Know your renter rights. Roommates cannot unilaterally force you out without an eviction. If you are in the middle of an illegal eviction, call 911 and report it. You can take them to court.
- Listen to your gut. If something seems wrong, it probably is.
Finding a Roommate in NYC Bottom Line
It’s easy to assume that a roommate will be a scary endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. If you do things carefully, you can find a NYC roommate who works with your lifestyle.