Astoria Renter's Guide: Housing and Transit

Astoria is a neighborhood of small houses and walk-ups: more than half of its residential lots hold a one- or two-family house, and walk-up buildings hold about half of all homes. In a small house the owner may live in the building, and that changes which tenant laws apply, so check the legal unit count, Good Cause Eviction status and HPD registration before you sign.

The numbers below are Roofy's analysis of the city's PLUTO tax-lot file for four Department of City Planning neighborhood tabulation areas (NTAs) that together make up Astoria: Astoria (Central), Astoria (North)–Ditmars–Steinway, Astoria (East)–Woodside (North) and Old Astoria–Hallets Point.

The housing mix

Astoria's housing ranges from single-family rowhouses to elevator buildings, but the middle of the range dominates. The most common building types by lot are three-family walk-ups (C0) and two-family brick houses (B1). Larger walk-ups are a big share of homes too: 840 walk-ups with more than six families (C1) hold 14,013 homes, and 1,253 five- to six-family walk-ups (C2) hold 7,368.

The mix varies a lot across the four planning areas. Ditmars–Steinway is the most house-heavy, Astoria (Central) and the East area are walk-up country, and Old Astoria–Hallets Point is mostly elevator buildings and has by far the most new construction.

Getting around

All five N and W stations are elevated; the M and R stations at Steinway St and 46 St are underground. In MTA data, only Astoria Blvd (N W) and Northern Blvd (M R) have step-free access, so check this if you need an elevator. Old Astoria–Hallets Point has no subway station inside it, so if you rent near the waterfront, time the walk to the N/W or check the ferry. The Astoria ferry stops at Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, East 34th Street, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Wall Street/Pier 11 and East 90th Street. Compare the commute against rent with the commute cost vs rent calculator.

Renting in a small house: which rules apply

Many tenant protections depend on building size and whether the owner lives there. Here is how they line up for the building types common in Astoria.

Notes on the table: HPD registration is required for buildings with three or more apartments, and for one- or two-family homes where neither the owner nor their immediate family lives. Good Cause exempts buildings with 10 or fewer apartments when the owner lives there, and landlords who own 10 or fewer units in New York State; a landlord claiming the small-landlord exemption in court must list the homes they own. The Rent Guidelines Board directs tenants in non-condo, non-co-op buildings with six or more units to check stabilization with HCR. NYC's lead law covers multiple dwellings with three or more units built before 1960 and tenant-occupied units in one- and two-family homes built before 1960. Local Law 152 exempts one- and two-family homes.

By the basic stabilization test (six or more units, built before 1974, not a co-op or condo), 40% of Astoria homes are in candidate buildings. The share varies by area: 52% in Astoria (Central), 46% in Astoria (East)–Woodside (North), 28% in Ditmars–Steinway and 25% in Old Astoria–Hallets Point, where many large buildings are newer. A candidate building is not a guarantee: some apartments were deregulated before the 2019 rent law, and owners do not always register. Ask the landlord, look for a rent-stabilized lease rider, and request the apartment's rent history from HCR. Check yours with the rent-stabilized checker and see does Good Cause cover my apartment.

What to check in an Astoria house or walk-up

1. 1

   Count the legal units

   Look up the Certificate of Occupancy on the DOB website and compare it with the doorbells and meters. A third apartment in a house with a two-family CO is a red flag. Buildings from before 1938 may not have a CO unless a later change in use required one. See reading a CO.
2. 2

   Basement and cellar units

   HPD says a cellar (more than half below curb level) in a one- or two-family home can never be lawfully rented. A basement can be occupied only if it meets rules including a 7-foot ceiling. Illegal units carry risks of carbon monoxide, poor ventilation and limited escape routes, and occupants can be ordered to leave. See basement apartments in NYC.
3. 3

   Utilities and heat

   In a small house, ask who controls the heat, whether your unit has its own gas and electric meters, and who pays for each. Use the utility bill split calculator if bills are shared.
4. 4

   Gas inspections in larger buildings

   Astoria is in Queens Community District 1. For buildings covered by Local Law 152, gas piping inspections were due in 2024 and are next due in 2028. See no cooking gas: your rights.
5. 5

   Violation and registration history

   Look up the address on Roofy. Small houses often have few or no HPD violations, which is not proof of good condition. See how to read a building page.

Money and paperwork

• The security deposit cannot exceed one month's rent, and application or background-check fees are capped at $20. See NYC move-in costs.
• If the landlord hired a broker, the FARE Act says the landlord pays. Check with the broker fee checker.
• Consider renters insurance for your belongings and liability. See the renters insurance guide.
• Lead paint: 55% of Astoria homes are in buildings with three or more apartments dated before 1960, the core of NYC's lead law. If a child under six lives with you, return the landlord's annual notice by February 16. See lead paint rights.
• Browse current Astoria rentals on Roofy.