EPISODE 29

All about co-living—what your options are and how to stay on the right side of the law

Co-living companies remove a lot of the friction involved in renting with roomies—the companies stock the pantry, clean the linen and provide a community. The Brick Underground Podcast considers the details of different co-living spaces, how they works and how the brands are defining themselves. We are also going to look at some of the legal issues that can arise from the co-living model.

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By Emily Myers | May 24, 2019 - 10:00AM

In the second episode of this season, The Brick Underground podcast breaks down what you need to know about the co-living phenomenon. Part of the sharing economy, co-living strives to make renting turn key and hassle-free. These companies will set you up with a room in a furnished apartment, match you up with a roommate, and take care of all the details—all for one monthly payment.

The housing model removes a lot of the friction involved in renting with roomies—the pantry is stocked, clean linen is part of the deal, cleaning services are usually provided, and you get a ready-made community. You can rent for short periods of time and do not have to meet the same income thresholds of traditional rentals. People in co-living spaces tells us they love the convenience and flexibility.

We'll get to get into the details with Brick Underground reporter Mimi O’Connor who has visited co-living spaces around the city, spoken to residents, and identified how the different co-living brands are defining themselves. We are also going to look at some of the legal issues that can arise from the co-living model.

Did you know it's illegal to rent a single room in a co-living space? You'll want to make sure all the roommates are on the lease and you're following the rules or you could find yourself being thrown out of the apartment by city inspectors.

We'll explore all that and how you can protect yourself with lawyer Michelle Itkowtiz, the founder of the Itkowitz law firm and creator of the Tenant Learning Platform, which offers online classes for New York City tenants on specific legal issues.

We'd love your feedback on the podcast. You can contact us via our website or leave us a rating or review at Apple podcasts.

The Market What are the pitfalls of co-living in NYC? 3 ways to protect yourself

The Market Brick Underground's 2021 guide to co-living spaces in NYC: How to tell the communal disruptors apart

Roommates + Landlords Co-living vs. dorms: An off-campus alternative for NYC college students

Emily Myers

Senior Writer/Podcast Producer

Emily Myers is a real estate writer and podcast host. As the former host of the Brick Underground podcast, she earned four silver awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Emily studied journalism at the University of the Arts, London, earned an MA Honors degree in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh and lived for a decade in California.

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