Roommate Finder in Long Island City, Queens, NY

Frequently asked questions

• Why do so many roommates pair up in Long Island City's towers?

  Long Island City's roommate pool is built around a short commute. Many sharers work in Midtown Manhattan, one stop away on the 7 or the E, and chose LIC for newer apartments and more space than they could afford alone in Manhattan. Others work locally at JetBlue's headquarters, Silvercup Studios, the Court Square offices or the neighborhood's growing number of film, tech and life science businesses, and some are students at LaGuardia Community College or CUNY School of Law at Court Square. 35 people have open Long Island City searches on Roomster's roommate finder today. Mention your line, your office and your hours in your profile, since that is how most good matches here start.

• How much do Long Island City roommates pay to split a tower two-bedroom?

  Two-bedrooms in Long Island City average roughly $5,200 to $6,650 a month depending on the building and source, so each of two roommates pays about $2,600 to $3,325, against about $3,800 to $4,540 for a one-bedroom alone. Many LIC towers also offer flex or convertible layouts, and many two-bedrooms come with two full bathrooms, which makes an even split easier to agree on. To lower your share, look at three-bedroom units, ask about concessions such as a free month in newly opened towers, and consider older walk-ups in Dutch Kills. If your tower apartment is rent stabilized, as many built with tax benefits are, the leaseholder may not charge you more than your proportionate share of the legal rent.

• Is Roomster a good roommate finder for Midtown commuters moving to Long Island City?

  It suits them well, because the commute is the reason most people choose LIC and it is easy to match on. From Hunters Point or Court Square, the 7 reaches Grand Central in minutes, and the E and M run to Midtown's Fifth and Sixth Avenues, so roommates who share a line often share a schedule. Say in your profile where you work, when you leave in the morning and whether you work hybrid, since a roommate who works from home five days a week uses a tower apartment very differently from one who is out from 8 to 7. If you are relocating from outside New York, do walk-throughs on live video and set the split and house rules before anyone signs a lease.

• Hunters Point, Court Square or Dutch Kills: where should my LIC roommate search start?

  LIC has several distinct pockets. Hunters Point, along the waterfront near Gantry Plaza State Park, has the newest towers, river views and the highest rents, and suits professionals who want amenities. Court Square, around the subway hub and the office towers, is central and convenient for any commute. Queens Plaza and Dutch Kills, to the north, mix newer towers with older walk-ups and hotels and usually cost less. The Ravenswood and Queensbridge area along 21st Street, home to the Queensbridge Houses, North America's largest public housing development with 3,142 apartments, has fewer private rentals. Pick the pocket that matches your budget and commute, then run your roommate search there, widening to Sunnyside or Astoria if needed.

• How do tower openings change the timing of a roommate search in Long Island City?

  Give yourself about six weeks, and watch for two patterns. As in the rest of New York, demand peaks from May through September as new graduates and job changers arrive. On top of that, new LIC towers lease up in waves when they open, often with concessions such as free months, which can make a two- or three-bedroom suddenly affordable for a pair of roommates who move quickly. If you see a new building opening, find a roommate first and apply together while the concessions last. The winter months are slower, with fewer people searching and more room to negotiate, though new towers offering concessions can draw crowds at any time of year.

• How do I check out a Long Island City roommate before we sign a tower lease?

  Most LIC tower leases make every roommate responsible for the full rent, and managed buildings usually run a credit and income check on everyone, so know your roommate before you apply together. Talk through income, credit history and how long each of you plans to stay, since a lease break in a tower can be costly. Roomster's free ID and address checks are voluntary, and whatever a member completes shows on their profile, so finish yours and prioritize roommates who have finished theirs. Once your profile is validated by email and phone, you can message someone for free. Keep early conversations on Roomster, tour the unit together or on live video, and never send a deposit to someone you have not met.