Just Signed an NYC Lease? Do These 5 Things Before You Move In
Most tenants skip all five. The ones who don't save themselves thousands in deposit disputes, utility headaches, and security nightmares.
Signing your lease feels like the finish line. It is actually the starting gun. The days between signing and moving in are the most important window in your entire tenancy — and most tenants waste them. The five steps in this guide take less than a week total, cost under $500 combined, and protect you from the most common and expensive problems NYC renters face: deposit disputes, security incidents, utility chaos, and building surprises. Do them in order.
Thing 1: Change Your Locks (You Have the Legal Right)
In New York City, tenants have a legal right to change or add their own locks without landlord permission under NYC Admin Code. The previous tenant had your keys. Their friends, ex-partners, delivery contacts, and anyone they gave a spare to also had your keys. You have no idea how many copies exist. Changing the cylinder is not optional — it is basic security.
- You do not need landlord permission to replace the lock cylinder — NYC law is explicit on this. You do need to provide the landlord with a copy of the new key upon request.
- Do not replace the entire lock body — just the cylinder. This preserves the door hardware the landlord owns while giving you control of who has access.
- Use a licensed NYC locksmith rather than a hardware store DIY job — a professional will ensure the new cylinder is the same grade or better, properly fitted, and comes with documented key control.
- Re-key all entrance doors on day one: front door, any back or side doors, mailbox if it uses a separate key.
- If your building has a doorman or key fob system, verify how building-level access is managed and whether you can request deactivation of old access credentials.
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Thing 2: Do a Damage Walkthrough — On Video, Before Any Furniture Arrives
Record every existing imperfection before your first box comes in
This is the single most important thing you can do to protect your security deposit. NYC landlords routinely attempt to deduct for damage that existed before the tenant moved in. Your only defence is a timestamped record created before you took possession.
- Record a continuous, narrated video walkthrough of every room. Open every cabinet, check under the sink, pan slowly across every wall and ceiling.
- Call out and close-up every mark, scratch, stain, chip, crack, and imperfection. Say the date and time aloud at the start of the recording.
- Check every fixture: test all light switches, run all taps, flush toilets, check that all windows open and lock, test the stove, run the shower.
- Photograph the inside of appliances — fridges and ovens are common deduction targets. Also photograph the inside of closets and the condition of the flooring under where furniture will go.
- Email the video to yourself and a cloud backup the same day. The metadata timestamp is your legal evidence — never edit the file after this point.
- Send a written summary of major pre-existing issues to your landlord by email immediately. This creates a record that they knew about the conditions from day one.
Thing 3: Pull the Building's HPD Record Right Now
Check for violations and complaints you didn't know about
You probably checked the building before signing — but run it again now that you have the specific unit number. Unit-level violations matter more than building-level summary data.
- Search hpdonline.nyc.gov for your exact address. Look specifically for violations on your unit number — not just the building.
- Check the complaint tab as well as the violations tab. Complaints show what tenants reported even if an inspector never came.
- Look for any open violations in your unit. If there are open Class B or C violations, notify your landlord in writing before move-in that you are aware of them and expect them to be resolved.
- Check the BHX Score for your building — the pest history and heat reliability sub-scores are the most predictive of problems you will experience as a tenant.
- Screenshot everything with the date visible. This document proves you reported pre-existing violations and cannot be held responsible for them later.
Thing 4: Set Up Utilities and Internet Before Move-In Day
Book internet installation before you move in — not after
This is the most consistently underestimated task. Internet installation in NYC buildings can take 2–6 weeks depending on provider and building infrastructure. Moving in with no internet and working from a hotspot for a month is entirely avoidable.
- Electricity (Con Edison): Transfer or start service at coned.com at least 5 business days before move-in. It takes minutes online.
- Gas (Con Edison or National Grid): Call to transfer gas service — do not assume it transfers automatically with electricity. Gas requires a separate account.
- Internet: Check which providers service your building first — not all are available in all buildings. Options vary by building: Spectrum, Verizon Fios (if your building has fiber), Astound/RCN, or building-managed providers. Book installation the same day you sign your lease.
- If your building has a managed internet provider (common in newer buildings), check whether service is included in rent or billed separately — read the lease clause.
- Renters insurance: Many NYC leases require it. Even those that don't should — NYC renters insurance starts at ~$15/month. Set this up before move-in so you're covered from day one.
Thing 5: Get Your Move-In Letter (Rent-Stabilised Tenants Only)
Request your stabilisation documents if you're in a regulated apartment
If your building is rent-stabilised, your landlord is legally required to give you a move-in letter stating the legal regulated rent, the previous tenant's rent, and a copy of the DHCR lease rider. Many don't provide it without being asked.
- Request the move-in letter in writing before or at lease signing. State that you are requesting it pursuant to the Rent Stabilization Code.
- Verify that the rent stated in your lease matches the registered legal rent in the DHCR system — search at apps.hcr.ny.gov.
- If the numbers don't match, this is a red flag for illegal deregulation or overcharging. Do not ignore it — request the full rent history.
- If the landlord refuses to provide the move-in letter, this itself is a violation you can report to DHCR.
Frequently asked questions about moving into an NYC apartment
Can my landlord refuse to let me change the locks?
No. NYC Administrative Code gives tenants the right to change their apartment door locks. The only requirement is that you must provide the landlord with a copy of the new key upon request. If your landlord threatens lease termination or makes any threat over you changing the locks, document it in writing — this is a tenant rights violation.
Which internet provider is best for NYC apartments?
Availability depends entirely on your building. Verizon Fios is considered best-in-class for speed and reliability but is only available in buildings already wired for fiber — check at verizon.com. Spectrum (formerly Charter/TWC) is the widest-coverage cable provider and available in most NYC buildings. Astound (formerly RCN) is available in parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and is often cheaper than Spectrum. Always check availability for your specific address rather than the neighbourhood generally.
Do I need renters insurance if my lease doesn't require it?
Yes — not legally, but practically. Your landlord's building insurance covers the structure; nothing covers your belongings, your liability, or your temporary housing costs if the apartment becomes uninhabitable. NYC renters insurance typically costs $12–$20/month for $25,000–$50,000 of personal property coverage plus $100,000+ in liability. The cost of not having it after a fire, flood, or theft is devastating.
What happens if I find serious damage after I move in?
Notify the landlord in writing immediately — the same day if possible. If the damage was not disclosed before move-in and makes the apartment uninhabitable, you have a warranty of habitability claim regardless of how long ago you moved in. For conditions that were pre-existing but the landlord denied: your move-in video documentation becomes critical evidence that the condition was there before you arrived.
How do I set up electricity in NYC if I've never done it before?
Go to coned.com and select "Start Service." You will need your new address, move-in date, Social Security Number or ITIN, and a payment method. The process takes about 10 minutes online. If your apartment uses gas for cooking or heating, you need to set up gas service separately — either with Con Edison (for most of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn) or National Grid (for most of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and parts of the Bronx). Call the provider — gas setup requires a phone call, not just online signup.
Related guides
Find a locksmiths near you
Further reading
Official resources
NYC law gives tenants the right to install and change their own door locks without landlord interference.
Start or transfer Con Edison electricity or gas service to your new address.
Set up National Grid gas service for NYC addresses.
Rent-stabilised tenants must receive a move-in letter with the legal regulated rent — what to check for.