9 jobs that come with free housing or cheaper rent in NYC

 Landing an affordable rental in New York City is hard enough in the best of times, and even more so when rents are at all-time highs and there's so much competition for available apartments, as is the case these days.

One way around that ordeal is to find a job that covers housing costs—some fully, others only partially. But every bit helps given how over half of all New Yorkers spend at least 30 percent of their income on rent alone—and one-third of renters spend a whopping 50 percent. That doesn't leave a lot left over to pay the bills and eke out some enjoyment from all the city has to offer. 

Here's a roundup of the more common work opportunities in NYC that typically come with free housing or reduced rent—emphasis on work, since you will still be earning your keep one way or another. 

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1. Building super

If you are handy with tools and know your way around running toilets, clogged sinks, and other common apartment repairs, you may want to consider being a super for a building. These jobs are numerous and in steady supply. For example, there were over 300 postings for live-in supers on ZipRecruiter (but read the fine print: some search results actually specified "not live-in"); with an average salary of $40,000 to $78,000 on top of free housing. 

Prepare to be on-call 24/7 and to navigate relationships with tenants as well as property managers and owners. But job security is pretty high so long as you are up to par—and especially if you join the Local 32BJ arm of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which mandates that all supers have live-in positions. (If you are a non-union super, it's up to the building whether to offer housing.) 

Need to brush up on your skills? New York City College of Technology offers courses and training.

2. Resident manager 

Some building owners may offer free housing to resident managers, who are usually responsible for managing rentals, maintenance and repair, day-to-day operations, staff supervision and training, payroll and human resources, and communicating with the general manager and property owner.

Job skills include being able to read and understand construction plans and hands-on knowledge of mechanical systems (along with possible trade certifications, depending on the employer). Unlike a property manager, you do not need to be a licensed real estate salesperson. Three to five years of related experience is generally required, however.

Finding these jobs is not easy—a recent search for "live-in resident managers NYC" on job sites turned up only a few solid results, including an Upper West Side condo building managed by Douglas Elliman and a 958-unit residential rental community in Long Island City run by the Durst Organization with a salary range of $130,000 to $150,000 for someone with the requisite years of experience.

Otherwise, it's mostly word of mouth. Tip: Get in the door of a leading property management company and work your way up.  

For example: Andy Marks, senior vice president of new business and marketing for Maxwell-Kates, an Associa company and leading provider of community management services in NYC, says they have "many properties where the community’s board of directors provides our resident manager/superintendent with a unit in which to live."

3. Nanny or au pair

Some families offer free or discounted housing as part of a live-in nanny or au pair position. This typically involves providing childcare services in exchange for accommodation and sometimes a salary.

Family-based child-care providers are supported and represented by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which offers training and advocacy through its local chapter (and the Carroll Gardens Association).  

Yet another resource is Hand in Hand, a domestic workers alliance that fought to win the New York Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, the first legislation in the country to provide legal rights and protections to nannies (as well as house cleaners, and home attendants). Check out its guide to negotiating a nanny worker agreement, which is targeted at employers and will help you know your rights and responsibilities. 

Domestic Workers United also offers nanny training, know-your-rights forums, and community events aimed at building solidarity. 

Are you coming from outside the U.S.? A network of private agencies including Cultural Care, Au Pair in America, and AuPairCare (the big three) are in charge of vetting and matching au pairs with host families under the auspices of the U.S. State Department. It's always better to go with a sponsored agency than to answer an ad on Craigslist or Facebook. 

4. Personal housekeeper

As with other domestic workers, live-in housekeepers are usually offered free housing as part of the arrangement. In return, you will be responsible for cleaning the home and doing laundry as well as other chores like running errands, walking the dog, and grocery shopping (and even cooking if that's your thing). By becoming a member of NDWA or Domestic Workers United, you can receive assistance in negotiating the terms of your contract to ensure fair payment, including your rights under NYC's rules for Paid Safe and Sick Leave for Domestic Workers. 

Hand in Hand also offers tips on how to create a fair house cleaner worker agreement (again, it's aimed at employers but knowledge is power). 

5. Senior caretaker

Certified home health aides often live with a senior without paying rent—and you are mandated at least eight hours of rest, usually when your employer is sleeping. You don't need to be a nurse or have any medical training either; instead, you just need a big heart and certification from a reputable agency that offers ongoing training and job placement too.  

Home Instead, for example, is fully licensed with the New York State Department of Health (where you can see a list of all legit agencies) and ensures you are bonded and insured. Its home health aides provide companionship, assistance with personal care (bathing, getting dressed), meal prep and light housekeeping, shopping and doing errands, medication reminders, and escorting to doctor appointments. All housing is included.

6. Historic home steward

If the idea of living in a gorgeous estate (including Gracie Mansion) in NYC strikes your fancy, step right up—the Historic House Trust, a partnership of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, has 22 such positions where the (unpaid) caretakers live rent free in exchange for maintaining the property and keeping it secure 24/7 along with other designated tasks.

Just be warned: The positions come up infrequently (one steward has been there over 30 years), and when they do, they often get snapped up before the post is listed to the public. 

7. College professor 

While no means a given, some local universities—notably NYU and Columbia—offer subsidized housing to full-time faculty at discounted rates (based on a sliding scale, and usually never more than one-third of your income). NYU has over 2,000 apartments, mostly located around Washington Square. Columbia University has even more units throughout Morningside Heights (but only assistant professors, associate professors, and professors as well as senior executive officers are eligible). Note that new hires, especially those coming from out of state, are typically first in line. 

And at NYU, there are a few faculty fellows in residence that live rent-free in dorms but must commit to being available at all times to respond to crises and participate in on-campus activities. You'll also need to submit a plan for student engagement as part of your application (i.e., prepare to bring it). 

8. Lower school teacher

Some private schools (such as The Brearly School) invite new hires to apply for housing at nearby buildings, where you'll pay less-than-market rents. 

Public school teachers (and other city employees) are given priority in many of the housing lotteries administered by NYC's Housing Connect. These rental apartments are not free, but many (not all) apartments are more affordable than market-rate apartments. All are rent-stabilized, which means rent increases are limited and lease renewals are automatic. Learn more by reading Brick's guide to applying to NYC's housing lotteries. 

9. Artist

Residencies have long been a way to attract creative types to the city and recognize local talent through short stays sponsored by cultural organizations. 

One notable example is found on Governors Island: Shandaken Projects offers a residency program (supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts) to one artist at a time for two to six weeks, with free room and board, studio space, and access to its printmaking studio. Residents live in an apartment (with a private bath but shared kitchen and dining room) inside Shandaken's multi-use headquarters in the Nolan Park section.

Governors Island Arts has hosted other live-in artist residencies in collaboration with its Organizations in Residence program, with a rotating roster of two dozen organizations. So be sure to check for future opportunities.  

Why not spend the summer in Montauk? The Edward B. Albee Foundation sponsors residencies at The Barn (literally a big white barn), where five creatives can stay free for either four- or six-week periods between June and mid-October. Writers stay in a large bedroom equipped with a desk; visual artists get a slightly smaller room and a large studio space (with 40-foot ceilings). Note that the program was put on hold for 2022-2023 while extensive renovations were underway but should resume soon. 

And even though you'll only get weeks, not months, of free rent, that's still money you can take to the bank. 

https://www.brickunderground.com/rent/jobs-that-pay-the-rent-in-NYC-super-nanny-au-pair-homekeeper-professor-artist

Munger eyes trouble for the U.S. commercial property market

 Charlie Munger believes there is trouble ahead for the U.S. commercial property market.

The 99-year-old investor told the Financial Times that U.S. banks are packed with “bad loans” that will be vulnerable as “bad times come” and property prices fall.

“It’s not nearly as bad as it was in 2008,” he told the Financial Times in an interview. “But trouble happens to banking just like trouble happens everywhere else.” 

Munger’s warning comes as U.S. regulators have asked banks for their best and final takeover offers for First Republic by Sunday afternoon, the latest in what has been a tumultuous period for midsized U.S. banks.

Since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March, attention has turned to First Republic as the weakest link in the American banking system. Shares of the bank sank 90% last month and then collapsed further this week after First Republic disclosed how dire its situation is.

Berkshire Hathaway, where Munger serves as vice chairman, has largely stayed on the fringe of the crisis despite its history of supporting American banks through times of turmoil. Munger, who is also Warren Buffett’s longtime investment partner, suggested that Berkshire’s restraint is partially due to risks that could emerge from banks’ numerous commercial property loans.

“A lot of real estate isn’t so good anymore,” Munger said. “We have a lot of troubled office buildings, a lot of troubled shopping centers, a lot of troubled other properties. There’s a lot of agony out there.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/30/charlie-munger-reportedly-warns-of-trouble-for-the-us-commercial-property-market.html

These 12 States Can Seize Your Home Over Delinquent Property Taxes

 by Petr Svab via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

It was a dream come true—or rather about to come true—when the Halls bought their forever home. It had everything they needed and more: five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a family room, a dining room, a roomy garage, good schools, and a good neighborhood. Sure, a fixer-upper, but they felt up to it. Prentiss Hall, a home improvement contractor, made it his life project, and everybody lent a hand—his wife, Tawanda, and six children, cousins, and friends.

“We were really excited,” Tawanda told The Epoch Times.

They negotiated the price down to $67,000—a bargain, perhaps, but the home demanded a daunting amount of “tender love and care.”

“The house had been sitting there for a while. I guess it had mold in it, and it needed new windows and doors and electric,” Tawanda said.

“The city made us get all kinds of permits to get the house up to code. So we went in there and just started working.”

It took about a year before they were able to move into the home in the quiet Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan. And it was several years before they felt “comfortable” with it, she said.

The result was worth it.

“It was a dream home. It was big enough … for our family to be there, we had plenty of rooms, big enough to have our holiday dinners, and everyone can come and be comfortable,” she said.

For a Detroit girl, it was nice to have a peaceful place to live, away from all the noise and hustle.

“We just hoped and planned to stay and grow and raise grandchildren and, you know,” she paused.

“But—,” her voice trailed into a sigh.

Shattered Dreams

Several years in, the Halls got into financial trouble. Tawanda’s handicapped brother and her sick mother moved in with them even as all their money still went into improving the house.

“We just had a lot of things happening at once,” she said. “Before I knew it, I was behind on all my taxes.”

Property tax on the 3,700-square-foot home ran over $5,000. In a few years, the debt ballooned to over $22,000, including interest and fees.

In February 2018, Oakland County foreclosed on the home.

The next month, the county put the Halls on a payment plan of $650 a month intended to allow them to get the house back. They prepaid a few months in advance and were told that they don’t need to worry about timely payments as long as they caught up on the payments by February 2019, according to court documents reviewed by The Epoch Times (pdf, pdf).

In June 2018, however, the county suddenly transferred the property to the city of Southfield, which had a preferential right to buy foreclosed properties for the price of the debt.

The Halls were informed they had to move out.

Four months later, the city gave the property to a private company, Southfield Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, for $1.

In early 2020, the house was put on the market and then sold for more than $300,000.

To the Halls’ shock, they learned they were not entitled to a single penny of that payout.

“I feel like someone stole from me and my family,” Tawanda said.

Less than a month later, Prentiss Hall passed away. Loss of the house put him under enormous stress, and his health deteriorated, she said.

Widespread Problem

Thousands of Americans have been put in a similar position—losing their homes and other properties over tax debts that only represented a small fraction of the property value.

In most of the country, such a practice is illegal. Local authorities are allowed to foreclose on properties over unpaid taxes, but they are required to sell them and return the owners everything above what they owe.

There are 12 states plus the District of Columbia that allow governments to keep the whole property and all sales proceeds: Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Alabama, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon.

A foreclosure sign is posted in front of a home for sale in Stockton, Calif. on April 29, 2008. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Another nine states have various loopholes, mostly allowing the government to keep such properties for public use (like in Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Ohio, and Rhode Island). Montana allows the government to keep all proceeds from the sale of commercial properties, not residential ones. Texas allows governments to sell properties at a discount in some circumstances. Wisconsin allows governments to keep the properties, but if they sell them, excess proceeds go back to the original owners, according to Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a nonprofit that has been tracking and litigating the issue.

Between 2014 and 2021, this practice has cost homeowners over $860 million in home value—equity—spread over some 6,200 homes. But those are only the cases PLF was able to document by looking at the more populous counties in the 12 states and only at homes for which there was enough information available. For thousands more, there wasn’t enough information. And there are untold more the PLF hasn’t looked at yet.

Most of the lost equity was wasted by selling the houses at a deep discount. About $30 million actually ended up in government coffers, while another about $280 million was pocketed by private investors that buy property tax debt from governments and then foreclose on the homes and sell them, based on data from nearly 4,700 property sales.

Legal Battle

For PLF lawyer David Deerson, the issue boils down to theft.

“It’s true that the government can take your property with few limits, but one of the limits is, whatever it takes, it has to pay you for it,” he told The Epoch Times.

Governments have been defending the practice on “legalistic” grounds, in his view.

“It’s commonly understood that property rights are not created by the Constitution. They’re protected by the Constitution, but they’re created by other sources of law, such as state law.”

Thus, governments have argued property owners don’t own the value of a property in excess of a debt unless the specific state law says so.

“There can’t be a property right in equity because if you look at the way the statutes are written, they don’t provide you with a chance to get your equity back,” Deerson explained the argument.

PLF and a lineup of legal and advocacy groups across the political spectrum disagree.

“In every single other context you can possibly imagine, equity is treated as a property right,” he said.

In a divorce, equity in a home is treated as part of the wealth being divided. In a private foreclosure, the bank cannot take a penny beyond what it’s owed.

“Of course, they have to pay you back the surplus equity. Why? Because you have a property right to it,” Deerson said.

“Equity isn’t treated as a property right only if it’s the government itself trying to take it.”

In 2020, PLF secured a ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court that outlawed the practice of governments keeping extra proceeds from tax foreclosures in the state. That should have resolved Tawanda’s case, but the government has continued to litigate the issue in federal courts.

In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which covers Michigan, ruled the practice unconstitutional, but the state government appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, leaving the case pending.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court announced it would pick up a similar case in Minnesota, where a 94-year-old grandmother lost her condo over some $15,000 in unpaid taxes and fees. The local government sold the condo for $40,000, again keeping every penny.

PLF is in the process of arguing the case before the Supreme Court, with the first hearing scheduled for April 26.

The case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, could decide the fate of Tawanda Hall and thousands of others.

“I’m hoping that they can change the law because it’s unfair to a lot of families who put their lives into their homes,” Tawanda said.

‘Wrong’ Argument

While the issue may seem clear-cut, courts have been split on it for decades.

In Nebraska, for example, the state’s Supreme Court has affirmed the practice. So did, last year, the federal appeals court for the Eight Circuit, which covers several states that allow the practice—Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

It was the split between the Sixth and Eight Circuits, both stemming from PLF cases, that likely prompted the Supreme Court to pick up the issue, according to Deerson.

He didn’t think the Nebraska Supreme Court was malicious in its ruling.

“We just think the court got it wrong,” he said.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/these-12-states-can-seize-your-home-over-delinquent-property-taxes

NYC closes parking garages over substantial structural issues after last week’s fatal collapse

 The city Buildings Department found such serious structural issues at four parking garages after last week’s fatal collapse that it immediately ordered them totally or partially shut down, officials said Friday.

The significant problems were discovered during a sweep that was launched after the Ann Street structure in the Financial District crumbled April 18, crushing one person to death and injuring five more.

“Following the building collapse in Lower Manhattan last week, DOB immediately began reviewing records of structures with parking facilities, in order to conduct targeted enforcement sweeps of similar structures with potential safety concerns or with outstanding DOB-issued violations around the City,” Buildings Department spokesman Andrew Rudansky said in a statement.

Inspectors slapped the garage at 225 Rector Place in Battery Park City in Manhattan with a partial vacate order after they discovered that many of its concrete slab reinforcements were extensively corroded.

The incident crushed one person to death and injuring five more.

ZUMAPRESS.com/Gina M Randazzo

The garage sits beneath a 25-story apartment building, but the DOB says it did not find structural issues that would force the evacuation of the entire structure.

In Chinatown, the DOB also ordered the partial clearance of the Manhattan garage at 50 Bayard St. after inspectors found excessively cracked and spalling concrete and several steel beams that were heavily rusted and deteriorated.

That garage also sits at the bottom of an eight-story apartment building, to which DOB gave a clean bill of health.

The two other garages are across the East River in Brooklyn.

Inspectors slapped the garage at 225 Rector Place in Battery Park City in Manhattan with a partial vacate order.

AP/Mary Altaffer

The garage sits beneath a 25-story apartment building.

Polaris/ Andrea Renault

At 2781 Stillwell Ave. on Coney Island, the DOB ruled the two-story building was in such disrepair that it ordered the entire structure vacated and told the building’s owner to hire an engineer for a fuller evaluation of what repairs will be needed.

The fourth garage, at 429 12th St. in Park Slope, was also in terrible condition, the city said. Engineers found “structurally compromised and extensively corroded slab means and columns in localized areas of the building.” They also found parts of the slab on the second floor and the vehicle ramp were “in a deteriorated condition.” It was ordered partially cleared.

All told, the Buildings Department said its inspectors and engineers hit 78 parking garages across the Big Apple that had outstanding serious violations of the city’s safety codes in the aftermath of the collapse in Lower Manhattan.

Documents obtained by The Post showed the Ann Street garage had a long history of significant structural issues, including that the connection joint between one support column and a ceiling beam had developed cracks, as had several of the walls — including some that were 11 feet long — and needed substantial upgrades to comply with the city’s fire code.

https://nypost.com/2023/04/28/some-nyc-garages-partially-totally-shut-by-buildings-after-deadly-collapse/

The Effects of Drugs on Your Property

 If you‘ve ever been on a boat, you are familiar with the wake that is left behind on the water.  Regardless of your speed, it is impossible not to disturb the pristine glassiness of even the most still water.  The same concept applies to your properties when someone has used or manufactured drugs on the premises; there is always an impact, large or small, on the condition of the property, and that impact can be as far reaching as the ripples of a passing boat.

A client recently called in to our offices to explain that she had been suffering some rather serious health problems since moving into a new property.  After multiple doctor visits and testing for mold, they hired a professional to come in to see if the property had been used for drugs.  Results came back that the kitchen held extremely high levels of methamphetamine residue while the common areas and bedrooms of the home also showed significant levels.  Mystery solved but that was just the beginning for this unfortunate tenant and for the unknowing landlord.

For landlords the legal standard of “what you knew or should have known” is critical when applying it to a situation like the one described above.  Here are a few practical applications for you to consider while your properties are occupied, but especially after the tenants move out and you are doing your post-occupancy inspections.  There are always tell-tale signs of the residual effects of drug manufacturing or use on your property.

• Inspect anything porous- drug residue can find its way into many parts of your property, but especially any porous areas. Pay special attention to rugs/carpets, exhaust fans, HVAC vents and returns, and even plumbing.  The P-traps in plumbing are notorious for being a place for drug residue to hide and wreak havoc.
• Yellow residue around the roof vents is one place even the most meticulous manufacturers overlook. Bring binoculars to inspect closely without having to climb up on the roof.
• Foil over the windows is one way that paranoid users and manufacturers try to hide their illegal behavior. Inspect each window for any left-over foil that may remain.
• Smells like dirty socks, dirty diapers, or even ammonia can be a clue to illegal drug use and manufacturing taking place in your property.
• A high volume of visitors to the property, usually taking place during irregular hours and for short-term visits, could be a sign that your property is being compromised. Being friendly with the neighbors of your properties can be beneficial as they can be the eyes and ears that you need for regular oversight of activities on your property.
• Drug users or manufacturers rarely, if ever, leave a property in good condition. The importance of having a consistent and timely move-out inspection will almost always give you hints as to how your property was used or misused.

If you find any of these things, or if a tenant complains about any of these things, you have a duty to take those findings or complaints seriously.  Again, the standard of “what you knew or should have known” comes into play.  It is bad enough that your property may have been damaged by drugs, don’t double down on the problem by trying to ignore or hide it from the next tenant, or if selling the property, the next owner.  You are obligated by law to remediate the property to a safe and habitable state, regardless of the expense.

The best way to avoid the “wake” of a bad tenant is to properly onboard the tenant, utilize in-person inspections of the property during tenancy, and perform a move out inspection with the tenant prior to them leaving the property.  There are no guarantees, but using these tools will help create a process that results in smoother sailing during your journey as a property owner.

https://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/property-management/the-effects-of-drugs-on-your-property/