VintageJen1984's Profile

You haven't said how long you live in this building. I have some friends (In Austin, not NY) who after being great tenants in a one bedroom for a year or two negotiated renting a two bedroom in the same complex for the same price they were paying for their one bed. Landlords like long term tenants, especially ones that don't cause trouble and are always on time with the rent, and this is why they will negotiate deals like this.

Now, you are in NYC, not Austin. I'm KNOW the price percentage between an Austin 1 and 2 bed and a West Village Studio and 1 are far different. Your search for a 1 is turning up rents that double your current pay, while in Austin a two maybe 1/3 to 1/2 more than their one bed was. So I understand if you go to your landlord and say "Can I move into a one for the price I'm paying now?" he/she will probably laugh in your face. But the advice isn't all bad. Perhaps you could negotiate a studio with more square footage, or a junior one bedroom, and maybe for only 450 or 500 more instead of 850 or 900. This way you have compromised. You have gotten some more square footage, maybe a little more separation, but for less than an entirely new apartment.

Maybe you all are laughing at me. Maybe in NYC this sort of negotiation won't happen. In that case I leave you with the following. There are companies in NYC that will put up temporary, landlord friendly, walls. This will cost far less than the price of a separate bedroom, but accomplish the getting the bed out of the living room. You won't get more square feet, but you will get real wall separation instead of a screen. You can select french door options in them, so if you need light coming through you can still have that.

Everyone is suggesting "no, don't do it, save your money" or "yes, do it, you'll love being able to have a lot of space" or "move to an outer borough". If negotiation with your landlord works, though, you stay not just in the West Village, but your same building, you'll have a bit more space, and you'll still spend a lot less and be saving some of that money.