[ploxiln]

Maybe you've never attempted to rent an apartment in NYC. They typically require

  * scanned ID
  * recent bank statements
  * recent pay stubs
  * recent tax return or W2
  * letter of employment on official company letterhead
  * company office number they can call to confirm employment
  * last two addresses you lived at
  * letter from previous landlord
  * yearly salary at least 40x (sometimes 50x) monthly rent
  * ~ $100 application fee for background / credit check
  * first months rent, security deposit, and broker's fee, on three separate certified/cashiers checks

The market of renters is very competitive. But also, as a tenant it's possible for you to be a huge problem, and you can be very difficult for them to remove. It's like they assume I might make a huge mess, damage the apartment, never pay rent, and refuse to move out for many months while legal proceedings grind slowly through the courts, and they'll never recover any costs because I'm broke. Even though my bank account statements show I could pay for the whole year up-front.

Compare to when Square shuts down or rejects a seller account with no explanation or recourse, or when Google AdWords does the same. It's because they've been burned by scammers in the past, scammers who are better at looking safe and innocent than honest people. It's just more efficient for them to be draconian and unsympathetic.

I just accept that's how it is. Maybe you take your business elsewhere. You're only out $250, could be way worse, could be thousands ...

[ams6110]

The reason for all these upfront requirements is that many areas have made eviction almost impossible, so landlords have to be very sure up front that they are renting to qualified tennants.

[rbcgerard]

It's pretty easy to evict a tenant in Texas, whereas its next to impossible in New York, which seems to have the perverse incentive of making it really hard for people to rent

[chrisferry]

I've never had to scan ID or provide a previous landlord letter for a NYC rental. Also there's usually no app fee just a $50 credit check. But all the other bullet points ring true. I've also lived in trendier Brooklyn neighborhoods where the competition is high. You must be prepared with a cashiers check for a down payment. Shit goes quick here.

[PhineasRex]

I live in NYC and likewise have never had to scan my ID. Scanning my ID would seem really odd to me if a landlord ever asked for it.

[aub3bhat]

I literally wrote the same comment. Though I must say that the relatively cheaper rent on a year/multi-year lease vs enormously overpriced sublets/AirBnB makes it a worthwhile investment.

[mkrishnan]

Well. That doesn't justify one way $150 administration fee