- About Available Housing....... (from Low to High cost) A brief description and explanation of accommodations and terms.......
- 1 - Rock bottom - NO cost - Sleep in the Terminal.
- This is frowned upon by airlines and If the particular terminal closes at night, Security will chase you out if you don't have a good "hiding place". Don't be caught sleeping in Uniform in view of the public!
- Price range - FREE
- Advantage - ?? Free ??
- Disadvantages -
- a. NO privacy, adequate rest is questionable,
- b. YOU and your things are not secure,
- c. YOU may not be safe! Frowned upon and may be prohibited by your employer subjecting you to discipline and Security Violations!
- 2 - "Hot Sheets" - The Locker - Find a Bed System. TOTALLY ILLEGAL IN NY !!
- This is a home or apartment packed with bunk beds and lockers. You put your bedding in a locker, and upon arrival get your bedding, find a vacant bed and (Try to) sleep. If there is no vacant bed, you sleep on the floor, a couch, chair.. whatever! When you awake, you put your things back in your locker and leave. People are generally packed in 8+ to a bedroom! These can be noisy, some limit your hours of stay/day, and some limit the days per month you can actually be there even though you are charged for the month at most of them. These are illegal operations, they violate building codes, fire codes and the operators really don't care about you, they care about one thing, the maximum money they can take in! BEWARE! There is little or NO privacy.
- Price Range - $150 - $225/month
- Advantage - Cheap. The cheapest off-airport housing.
- Disadvantages -
- a. These ARE illegal! These are fire traps! They violate fire & building codes,
- b. They are generally noisy, susceptible to being shut down by the authorities with little notice,
- c. They offer little or no privacy,
- d. are usually run-down and dirty, not secure, and
- e. not conducive to adequate rest.
- 3- The typical "Crash Pad" -
- A step up from #2 above, it is generally the same conditions as #2 above with less crowding, (maybe), less daily/monthly time limits although some still enforce them, and usually (maybe) you get your own bed, which hopefully will not be in use when you are not there as some owners will rent a bed to more than 1 person by attempting to learn your schedule in order to maximize income (Whether they tell you or not). Maybe some gym equipment is provided to entice some.
- Price Range - $175 - $275/month
- Advantage - A step up from #2 above, but really not much better.
- Disadvantages -
- a. These ARE also illegal! These are fire traps! They violate fire & building codes,
- b. are generally noisy,
- c. susceptible to being shut down by the authorities with little notice,
- d. offer little or no privacy,
- e. are no more secure than #2 above and
- f. are not conducive to adequate rest.
- 4 - Shared Rooms (NOT Pvt Rooms) or Shared Apartments-
- YOU rent the room or apartment and YOU find your roomates or co-tenants. YOU are the responsible party. Here you have some choices and some control. You can sub-rent a room or an apartment (maybe) and possibly share the rent with a roommate/s and/or co-tenants of your choice. Some of these may still have bunk beds but less crowding (Which you may be able to control). Some require you to have your own furniture. If you don't have a roommate when you take the place, be sure you can sublet to someone or bring in another tenant if you are responsible for the whole monthly rent of the apartment! House rules are much more flexible. Sounds good except beware, if there is a lease or rental agreement for a stated period of time, someone will have to sign on to it (and they control it and become the responsible party answering to the owner and collecting rents from roomates and/or co-tenants and paying the total rent !).When your roommate transfers, quits, gets laid off, fired etc. (or doesn't pay their share} YOU and/or the remaining tenant/s is/are obligated for the whole rent/month and MUST make up the difference or find a replacement roommate or co-tenant! Some rooms/apartments come with utilities included and internet included, others DO NOT. Utilities can add up if you are paying for them on a limited salary as a new hire! PLUS if you are new to the utility company you will have to give them a deposit in addition. If you don't get your own roommate, you may find yourself with someone you are not compatible with and definitely don't know! If sharing a room, this can be awkward, or uncomfortable.
- Price Range - $250 - $500/month and up.
- Advantage -
- a. You have some control. More privacy & security.
- b. These ARE legal.
- c. Usually the accommodations are clean, safe and more acceptable. In a shared apartment you may have your own private room, you may not.
- Disadvantages -
- a. Not totally private.
- b. The disadvantages of sharing.
- c. Your room may or may not be private.
- d. Costs more.
- 5 - Private Rooms- THIS IS WHAT WE (CREWROOMS) OFFER
- Here you are responsible ONLY for your own room rent, not the whole apartment. If its lockable, (Hard to find in NY) you have total privacy and your belongings should remain untouched while you are away! Some may require you to share utilities. You may or may not have kitchen privileges! This is an important consideration. Occupants share a bathroom.
- Price Range - $250 - $500/month and up depending primarily on the size and amenities, furnishings etc. of your private area etc.
- Advantages -
- a. Safe, secure, & private,
- b. limited financial responsibility,
- c. YOUR room is limited to YOU.
- d. You have a place to leave your things while you are away,
- e. They are quieter, MUCH less crowding!
- f. YOU have more control,
- Disadvantages -
- a. Moving up in cost. May have some house restrictions.
- b. May have to get your own internet. (We provide this)
- c. May not be furnished. (Ours ARE!)
- 6 - Your Own Apartment- The place is all yours.
- Utilities are usually YOUR expense. You may be able to sublet to roommates or co-tenants, maybe not. Furnished and/or unfurnished.
- Price Range - $1400 - $3000+/month for a 3 room Apt and the sky is the limit!
- Advantage -
- a. You are limited only by your lease/rental agreement.
- b. You have the most control of your living conditions.
- c. The most private, quietest and secure.
- Disadvantages -
- a. High Cost,
- b. you may have to provide your own furniture and/or utilities.
- VERY IMPORTANT ! Know who is managing your building!
- 1- Is it someone who has been in the airlines and knows and understands crew life and problems first hand ? We at "CrewRooms" lived the airline life!
- 2- Is it a local non-airline person who may NOT understand airline problems of training, base bidding, transfers, forced base changes, probation, reserves, all-hour call-outs, short notices etc. ?
- 3- Is it someone from a foreign culture with different standards of living from what you may be accustomed ? Typically packing people in illegally, renting beds multiple times when you're gone? These 3 factors WILL impact your living conditions AND your stress level or non-stress-free comfort!! In ALL cases, the owner and or his managing agent has a right to access your accommodations for emergencies, repairs and inspections.
NY Housing ""Need to Know