Furnished Apartments NYC: Why Only 3% Exist & Better Alternatives

TL;DR: Only 3-5% of NYC rentals come furnished due to high costs and risks for landlords. Corporate housing and furniture rental services are often better alternatives than hunting for rare furnished units.

Why Furnished Apartments Are So Rare

The Economics Don't Work:

Average furniture replacement: $8,000-15,000 per turnover
Insurance claims 3x higher than unfurnished units
Furniture loses 50% value in first year
Higher insurance premiums (15-25% increase)

Operational Headaches:

Tenants report furniture issues as maintenance requests
Complex lease inventories and damage disputes
Higher vacancy periods for cleaning/replacement
Storage costs for replacement inventory

Where to Find Furnished Rentals

Best Neighborhoods:

Midtown West: Corporate housing cluster
Financial District: Executive short-term rentals
DUMBO/Williamsburg: Tech worker housing

Search Platforms:

Corporate housing: Oakwood, BridgeStreet, Extended Stay America
Specialists: Furnished Quarters, Zeus Living
Short-term: Airbnb (28+ days), Furnished Finder

Better Alternatives to Furnished Rentals

1. Furniture Rental Services

CORT: $150-400/month, 3-month minimum
Feather: $99-300/month, monthly plans
Brook Furniture: $200-500/month, full-service setup

2. Buy and Sell Strategy

Facebook Marketplace + Craigslist for used furniture
IKEA new furniture, sell at 30-50% loss when moving
Often cheaper than furnished premium long-term

3. Corporate Packages

Many companies provide $2,000-5,000 relocation allowances
Use for furniture rental vs. paying furnished premium

When Furnished Makes Sense

Good Candidates:

Corporate relocations (6 months - 2 years)
International students/workers
Medical residents on rotations
Life transitions requiring flexibility

Negotiation Tips:

Offer longer leases for monthly reductions
Time searches for October-February (lower demand)
Leverage corporate backing for better terms

Better Than Furnished

👉 Get instant alerts with RentReboot for unfurnished apartments, then use furniture rental services. Often cheaper and more flexible than hunting for rare furnished units.