How to find a roommate in New York

Updated October 25, 2026

In New York a roommate is often the difference between a neighborhood you love and a long commute. Rooms go fast, so it pays to know what you want before you start, and to ask the right questions in the first conversation.

Decide your must-haves first

Before you message anyone, write down what you will not compromise on. It saves you from long chats that go nowhere.

Budget: the most you can pay each month, including utilities and internet, not only rent.
Area: which neighborhoods and subway lines work for your commute, and which do not.
Move-in date and how long you plan to stay. Many New York leases run for 12 months.
Lifestyle: smoking, pets, guests, working from home, and how quiet you need it at night.

Where to look

Facebook groups, Craigslist and friends of friends are where many New York roommate searches happen, but posts get buried quickly and you cannot filter them. On Roomly every listing and every roommate profile gets a match score based on your city, budget, move-in date and lifestyle, so you see the people who fit you first.

Ask friends and colleagues too. A roommate who comes with a reference is often worth more than a slightly cheaper room.

Questions to ask before you meet

What does a normal weekday look like for you? When do you wake up and go to sleep?
How often do you have guests over, and do partners stay the night?
How do you want to split cleaning and shared groceries?
How do you split utilities: equally, or by room size?
Whose name is on the lease, and does the landlord know about the roommate?
Why did the last roommate leave, and how long are you planning to stay?

Meet in person and see the place

Always see the apartment before you commit. Check the room you would get, the kitchen and the bathroom, and how clean the shared space is. Look at the radiators, water pressure and windows, and ask how the building handles heat in winter and repairs.

Understand who is on the lease

In New York a tenant named on the lease can usually share the apartment with one additional occupant, but your position is different depending on whether you sign the lease with the landlord or rent a room from the leaseholder. If you are not on the lease, ask for a written roommate agreement that says what you pay and how much notice either side gives. For the rules, see the tenant information from the New York State Attorney General or NYC.gov.

Red flags

Asking for a deposit or rent before you have seen the apartment.
Vague answers about who signed the lease, or a landlord who must not find out about you.
Pressure to decide on the spot, or payment only by gift card, crypto or a payment app to a stranger.
Refusing to put any agreement in writing.

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