NYC Renting Guide

First Apartment in NYC: A Move-In Checklist for New International Graduate Students

Quick answer

Getting your first NYC apartment goes smoothly when you handle it in three phases: before you sign (confirm the lease, costs, and that the listing is real), move-in day (inspect and document the unit before you unpack), and your first week (set up utilities, mail, and essentials). This checklist walks a new international grad student through each phase so nothing important slips.

Before you sign: verify the listing and landlord, read the lease, and confirm the total move-in cost.
Move-in day: inspect the unit, photograph everything, and note any existing damage in writing.
First week: set up electricity, internet, and mail, and locate the essentials in your building.
Keep records: save the lease, receipts, photos, and every message with your landlord.

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Your first-apartment checklist, in order

Before you sign

Detail: Lease terms to check before signing

Do the diligence while you still have leverage. Confirm the listing and landlord are real, read the whole lease, and add up the true move-in cost — first month, the security deposit (capped at one month in New York), and any legitimate fees. If anything is unclear or a cost seems off, resolve it before you sign, not after.

Verify the listing and the landlord, and never pay before a signed lease.
Read the full lease, including renewal, sublet, and early-termination terms.
Confirm the total move-in cost in writing and that no fee exceeds what is allowed.
Check who pays which utilities, and what is included.

Move-in day

Detail: Move-in inspection checklist

Before you unpack, inspect the apartment and document its condition. Photograph and video every room, test appliances, outlets, heat, water, and locks, and write down any existing damage. Share that record with your landlord in writing on day one — it is your best protection when it is time to get your deposit back.

Photograph and video every room and any existing damage before unpacking.
Test appliances, outlets, heat and AC, water pressure, and all locks.
Put any existing damage in writing to your landlord on move-in day.
Confirm you have all keys, fobs, and mailbox access.

Your first week

Detail: Set up and transfer utilities after moving in

Get the essentials running. Set up or transfer electricity and internet in your name, sort out mail and packages, and learn your building — trash, laundry, package room, and who to contact for repairs. Doing this early avoids a cold, disconnected first week and a scramble later.

Set up or transfer electricity and internet in your name.
Sort out mail forwarding and how packages are received.
Find the trash, laundry, and package areas, and the repair contact.
Save the building rules and your landlord’s or super’s contact.

Common situations

You are signing your first lease ever and want to be sure you are not missing a step.
You are moving in the week of orientation and need a fast, reliable sequence.
You want to protect your deposit and are not sure how to document the unit properly.
You are setting up utilities and mail in the US for the first time.

Documents to keep

The signed lease and receipts for every payment (deposit, first month, any fees).
Move-in photos and video, plus a written list of existing damage shared with the landlord.
Your landlord’s or building super’s contact and the building rules.
Utility and internet account details once they are in your name.

What to watch for

Do not unpack before documenting the unit — undocumented damage becomes your problem at move-out.
Do not accept a security deposit above one month's rent, which New York does not allow.
Do not skip reading the lease; renewal, sublet, and termination terms matter later.
Do not pay any move-in cost before you have a signed lease and have verified the listing.

Next step

Contact Livins.ai when you are about to sign or move into your first NYC apartment and want a second set of eyes on the lease and total cost, or a check that the listing and landlord are legitimate.