Is an 18 Month Lease a Possibility? (sublease, sublet, renters)

[kln82]

I'll be moving to the Bronx to attend grad school this fall. Ideally, I'd like to get my own place (studio or 1br), but I'm concerned about lease times. My grad program is only a year and a half long, and I will likely be moving away afterwards. Thus, I really don't want to have to sign a 1 year lease that I'll have to renew again for another year (leaving me with 6 months that I have to pay for, but that I don't need). Would a landlord ever consider allowing me to sign a 18 month lease? If so, would they still consider it even if it's in an area right near a University and I'd be moving the date they'd be looking for a new tenant from July/Aug (right before the school year) to Jan/Feb (middle of the school year)?

One other question: I'm moving back to the States from abroad and am really crunched for time as far as finding an apt goes. What is the likelihood that I could come to NY, find an apt, and sign a lease within 4 days? I'd be more than willing to do whatever research I can via the internet and phone before hand.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

[jennee]

Maybe you should try roommate.com? It may be help you get the flexibility you need.

[Green Irish Eyes]

I'd say an 18-month lease would not be the norm, but it never hurts to ask. Alternately, you could ask about the possibility of subletting, so that if you don't stay the entire two years, you can find someone to take over the lease. Or, you could look for a sublease situation yourself, which might allow a bit more flexibility.

[Spac3d]

Possible, yes. Probable, maybe.

I beleive that renters gain more rights if they sign a lease for more than 12 months at a time. It would be possible to sign a 12 month lease and a rider for 6 months at the same time to make it an effective 18 months.

[anders]

Originally Posted by Spac3d

Possible, yes. Probable, maybe.

I beleive that renters gain more rights if they sign a lease for more than 12 months at a time. It would be possible to sign a 12 month lease and a rider for 6 months at the same time to make it an effective 18 months.

In NYC, you don't get more rights by tacking an extra six months onto lease.
Rights "happen" just by virtue of having a lease, and specifics depend on the type of rental and the terms of the lease. For example, a rent-controlled/stabilized tenant has more protections than a market-rate tenant does regarding rent increases and renewals.
(Lease-length is a drawback only for month-to-month tenants, who can be given shorter notice to vacate.)

I agree with squeezeboxgal: Either ask for an 18-month lease, or look for a sublet -- and in either case, make sure that you have a written lease that dots every "i."