NYC Landlords Using Airline Type Pricing To Set Rents (New York: real estate, 2014)

[BugsyPal]

Just when you thought renting an apartment in NYC in particular Manhattan couldn't get any more frustrating.......High-tech, airline-style pricing is pushing New York City rents to new altitudes * - NY Daily News

[Cida]

Ugh! That's not only disgusting - but it seems to me that it must be illegal. Hope someone cracks down on it.

I have to actually post to thank for for the post, since the system isn't letting me give you a point.

[Nugget]

Landlords have always done this, maybe not with an effective yield management system but you see rents change all the time on the larger rental buildings. In fact the rent itself isn't set in stone until the lease is signed by the landlord.

Immoral but not unethical or illegal.

[osric]

The first comment on that article links to a blog that has useful info on how to game these automatic rental pricing schemes...
The Best Times to Rent: Apartment Dynamic Pricing Patterns | Kwelia Blog

Cheapest days to sign: Mon & Fri
Most expensive days to sign: Sun & Tue
Sign early in the month for the best deal
Rent early in the year for the best prices

I've alway had better luck renting from owners directly, but I've never lived in a market with huge apartment blocks managed by real estate investors.

[silverbullnyc]

I'm not saying its not happening BUT i will say im not coming across it yet aside from only 1 management i deal with that does change prices daily but only on 1 building in their portfolio.

Also there is no "right day" to rent a place/sign a lease like this link says: The Best Times to Rent: Apartment Dynamic Pricing Patterns | Kwelia Blog

From Late may-Late Sept is when prices are at their highest though so keep that in mind.