Local portal · you'll deal with Zillow Rentals and its advertisers
Renting an apartment in United States
Where people in United States look for flats, what to expect from deposits and leases, and every site you can search, from nightly stays to long-term lets.
City guides
Local rental portals in United States
Search on Zillow Rentals
Local portal · you'll deal with Apartments.com and its advertisers
Apartments.com
Local portal · you'll deal with Craigslist (apartments / housing for rent) and its advertisers
Craigslist (apartments / housing for rent)
Local portal · you'll deal with Zumper and its advertisers
Zumper
Local portal · you'll deal with Furnished Finder and its advertisers
Furnished Finder
What to know before you rent
- Typical rents
- There is no single national rent figure; HUD publishes Fair Market Rents for every metro area and non-metro county, defined as the 40th-percentile gross rent for a standard-quality unit, which is a practical local baseline. (source, 2026)
- Deposits
- Deposit limits are set by each state. In New York State a security deposit may not exceed one month's rent, and a landlord cannot take both last month's rent and a deposit. (source, 2026)
- Agent fees
- In New York City the FARE Act bars brokers who represent the landlord (including those listing with the landlord's permission) from charging the tenant a broker fee; other tenant fees must be disclosed in the listing. (source, 2026)
- Scam warnings
- The FTC warns that scammers hijack or copy real listings, swap in their own contact details and ask for deposits before you see the unit; never wire money or pay by gift card or crypto for a place you have not visited. (source, 2026)
Short-term rental rules
- New York City: Under Local Law 18 (2022) hosts must register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement before offering stays under 30 days, and booking platforms may not process unregistered stays. Stays of 30+ consecutive days are exempt; some buildings are on a prohibited list. (source, 2026)
- San Francisco: Short-term rental hosts must register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals and the Treasurer & Tax Collector before renting. (source, 2026)
- Los Angeles: Home-Sharing is limited to the host's primary residence; hosts must register online, show the registration number on every listing and pay per-night fees. (source, 2026)
Short stays in United States
These international sites search any city in United States by name.
Offer from Booking.com · you'll book on their site
Booking.com
Huge choice of serviced and private apartments, filtered to apartments only. Many rates allow free cancellation.
Booked and paid on Booking.com: their prices, terms and guest protection apply. Booking.com's terms
Offer from Vrbo · you'll book on their site
Vrbo
Whole homes and apartments only, never shared rooms. A good pick for families and groups.
Booked and paid on Vrbo: their prices, terms and guest protection apply. Vrbo's terms
Offer from Expedia · you'll book on their site
Expedia
Apartments, aparthotels and hotels in one place, with loyalty rewards if you already book flights there.
Booked and paid on Expedia: their prices, terms and guest protection apply. Expedia's terms
Offer from Airbnb · you'll book on their site
Airbnb
Private homes and apartments from individual hosts, with weekly and monthly discounts on many listings.
Booked and paid on Airbnb: their prices, terms and guest protection apply. Airbnb's terms
Facts on this page come from the linked official or reputable sources on the dates shown. Rules change: check with the authority or provider before you sign or book.