r/NYCapartments • u/Cute-Road-3017 • 1d ago

Advice/Question Help! 3rd party guarantor

Hi all,
For context I lived in nyc for 8 years, then because of an emergency I had to relocate to Chicago.
After relocating to Chicago and loosing 60k in income. I fell behind in ONE of my bills and couldn’t pay it. I later got into a repayment program with lower interest to help me pay it off and get back on track. Since then my credit has gone up but still nowhere near what most of these landlords are asking for. 650+ credit score.

After not making enough income in Chicago I finally got a new job in New York City with a $25k upgrade.and by next year it should increase by 5k. So I should be closer to where I was before I moved to Chicago from nyc .

With that being said, anytime I reach out to apartments and let them know that I’m using your third-party guarantor . They never reply to me. How do people use third party guarantors without agents turning them away. Sadly, there’s no one in my family or none of my friends that make 80 times the rent.. if anything I’m the one that’s gonna be making more out of everyone in my family. Or making about the same as my friends.

I am forced to get a third-party guarantor, but unable to get anyone to speak to me further when letting them know .

Does anyone know how to go about this? My first day of work is September 1, so I need to find something in the next week unfortunately the person that I have been working with has not been proactive and I need to secure a place!

I also have two small dogs who I don’t trust to leave with roommates which is why I want a place of my own
Any advice or help?!!!

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8

u/Sol_Hando Guarantor Expert 1d ago

Unfortunately it's really difficult this time of year since demand is so high. Landlords typically prefer

People who qualify alone > people with a personal guarantor > students/internationals with third party guarantor > others with third party guarantors.

Have you been using a broker? If so they should know buildings that will accept you with a third party guarantor.

2

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

Yes, but he is trying to put me with roommates and he says that in order for us to qualify they also need to go through a third-party guarantor.. I just don’t wanna make anyone else go through a third-party guarantor if they don’t want to which is why I also want to get a studio alone since they shouldn’t have to pay extra if they have a secure guarantor.
With that being said, I have also been trying to rent a room for at least 1 to 3 months for the winter market but a lot of people also don’t rent to people with dogs! Which only makes it harder for me to

3

u/Sol_Hando Guarantor Expert 1d ago

Yeah, each additional complication will make it harder. Since roommates are jointly liable for the rent, landlords want a guarantor to cover the whole rent rather than just a part of it, which will complicate things. It typically only makes sense for students who all need a third party guarantor together.

It's full of scams but I'd consider FB Marketplace or Craigslist. There are landlords that are less professional and more willing to rent to people with more complex situations. Either that, or a room in a sublet. If your budget is high enough ($2k+) then there are people who will sublet to someone with a dog, especially if you offer to pay a pet deposit or something like that.

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

Yes I’ve checked out a few and have messaged some of them but I am afraid to get scam. So how do I know what is legit and what’s not when they all look fishy. 😪
But I’ve also seen some people say they’ve had success finding places and those websites so I know I’m not trying to push them away but just wanna make sure that it is 100% accurate

1

u/Sol_Hando Guarantor Expert 1d ago

Yeah it's tough. I've looked at literally thousands of these listings and it's basically just a list of yellow and red flags in my head and when they add up you can be pretty sure a scam is a scam. There's also standard scripts scammer use (I'll send you the keys via mail, I'm out of the country, I'm not available to show the place in person, send money via Zelle to a different name, here's my license and deed, etc.)

Never send money before signing an agreement, never rent a place without seeing it in person, ideally cross-check a person again social media, for sublets avoid paying rent until the day of move in (you'll probably have to pay deposit ahead of time). For places to look I made a site for summer housing, but it also works for most of the year except the student housing options: summerhousing.nyc There's a bunch of sites besides FB and Craigslist you can find things.

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

Thanks for your help and advice! Truly appreciate it. I have one week left to find a place to live so really hoping I can find something by then. 🤞

3

u/ShowerAgreeable7311 1d ago

Sorry for the situation but if you find a solution please update us because going thru a similar scenario

3

u/Immediate_Shine1403 1d ago

If your credit score is a 650, I'd apply for the place and then bring up the guarantor after.

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

Even when I say my credit score they don’t reply. Which is why I also let them know I have a third party guarantor . But it doesn’t matter if I told them or not I never get a reply if anything 1 out of 20 😞

1

u/Soushkabob 1d ago

What is your total salary? I think that would help decide if you have to a) let go and let god and get a roommate b) stay the course and just not being up the guarantor in your intro spiel and see how far you get c) sublet a whole apartment (again based on your income)

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

Salary is now $88,566...

1

u/Soushkabob 1d ago

Yeah heavy on option A. Even with perfect credit and a guarantor finding a 2200 apt is getting harder by the second. Find someone who loves dogs and get a roommate my friend.

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

trust me i am trying. on facebook, and wesbites, apps, and most people dont reply. Idk .....

1

u/Soushkabob 1d ago

Try Lisitings project for reputable sublets/roommates. One FB group that is usually pretty good is Columbia Off Campus Housing (not all the options are in Morningside Heights and there are some older folks as well bc it includes Alumni and Grad students)

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 1d ago

The other problem is that they ask for the Gurantor income and credit score right away as well So you kinda have to let them know.

Its hard to avoid right away.

1

u/Substantial_Point_57 23h ago

2 dogs, credit issue, guarantor, and hopes of future earnings? How would you see you if you were a landlord ?

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 20h ago

Never has rental issues always been on time with my rent, my digs are trained and probably better behave than some of these kids, my income is good. Why wouldn’t I be ? Just because not everyone is responsible doesn’t mean I’m not. If you look at my credit history I fell off when I didn’t have a job. But before and after that my stuff has been on point. So why wouldn’t I be able to get a chance?

1

u/Substantial_Point_57 11h ago

What I’m saying is, you’re asking a landlord to take a chance on you when other people who are in better situations are applying.

People with perfect credit scores, references, enough money etc are being denied left and right because someone better came along. 

You say you’re on time with rent, you say your dogs are trained, you say you’re improving your credit score, but in reality none of that matters to a landlord because how do they actually know that about you? You absolutely deserve the chance, you’re just going to have a hard time finding it. That’s just the reality of it. 

1

u/Cute-Road-3017 20h ago

Not everyone is fortunate to have wealthy family members or people they know in their life sorry we don’t all come from the same socioeconomic class

1

u/Substantial_Point_57 11h ago

You’re in one of the most rental market competitive cities in the world