Leah Hochbaum Rosner

Most New Yorkers know what it’s like to be renter. But what if you were on the other side? Whether you own an apartment and are looking to rent it out, or are a renter trying to sublet your place, here’s what you ought to know about playing landlord:

In New York City, horror stories abound about renters getting conned into believing they’re getting a great deal on a place (in fact we just covered some earlier this week). Those who get duped often happily hand over their money—and a lot of it at that—only to find out that no such place ever existed and their cash is long gone, as is the "broker" who was working with them. So how can you keep from being swindled? Learn here.

What are some of the most common rental scams?

If you aren’t lucky enough to make 40 to 45 times your monthly rent, you might have trouble qualifying for an apartment where you can actually pay said rent. Most folks get around this by finding a guarantor to co-sign the lease and agree to pay the rent if you don’t. These guarantors are generally required to have a credit score of at least 700, an annual income of 80 times the monthly rent, and to reside in the tri-state area. But what happens if you don’t know anyone who’ll agree to be your guarantor?

Raising a family in a city of apartment-dwellers all but guarantees awkward social interactions with your neighbors on a semi-daily basis. Do their tepid greetings mean they heard through the paper-thin walls your tween recently screaming how much he hates you? Do you suspect that they secretly blame you for the building-wide flu epidemic since you let your sick—but not yet diagnosed—child run around the playroom last week?

Finding a five-bedroom in NYC for your Duggar-sized family won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible, either. Platinum Properties agent Constantinos “Gus” Katehis tells you where to look in this week’s Buy Curious.

THE WISH LIST:

Are there five-bedroom apartments in the city (non-townhouses please!) for a large family? 

THE REALITY: