Sticker Shock for New Arrivals

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Vanessa Flood

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“To be honest, it’s only now that I’ve gotten a decent job (O’Donovan is a plumber) and a few bob together that I’ve been able to add bits and pieces to the place. I’ve just bought a small kitchen table and two chairs so I’m not doing too bad,” he said.

Vanessa Flood, 24, has only been in New York a month, and warns new immigrants of the dangers of renting from people that advertise on the Internet.

Flood, from Co. Longford, came to New York to pursue a career in acting and was determined to be organized before she boarded a plane.

“I did a lot of research on accommodations and set up appointments for when I arrived,” said Flood.
 “I found a lot of fake landlords online and when I met them I knew they were scam artists.”

Through Internet advertising site Craigslist, Flood found a landlord advertising himself as a “no fee” landlord.  He didn’t require a deposit and only wanted $125 a week with basic furnishings in Manhattan.

However, when Flood, accompanied by her future roommate, also from Co. Longford, met the “landlord” in person she immediately knew he was a scam artist. After asking him a few questions, which he didn’t answer, she turned on her heels and pursued her next appointment.

“The second guy was even worse. He wanted a copy of our passports and $200 upfront to give us a list of apartments that were for rent, something we could get ourselves on Craigslist. We were really not having any luck,” said Flood.

A little research on the above mentioned “landlords” led Flood to discover that both of the men had various encounters with the police, scammed people out of money and were not real landlords.

After a few more emails and time on the Internet, Flood and her friend came across Woodlawn, an area populated with Irish immigrants in the Bronx.

While staying in the city they ventured up to Woodlawn and were directed to the Aisling Irish Community Center on McLean Avenue in Yonkers where they immediately found a one-bedroom apartment that was affordable and clean.

 “We had enough money for the month’s deposit and rent so that wasn’t an issue,” she added.

As for purchasing furniture, Flood said, like O’Donovan, her friend bought an inflatable bed, and she bunked in the bed that was already in the apartment.

“We were lucky because the apartment was partially furnished which was a great help, and thanks to the ladies at the Aisling Center we got a lot of bits and pieces that we would have needed donated to us so all in all it worked out,” she said.

Tarrant said it’s important to have enough extra cash, after the rent is paid, for sustenance until a job is found.

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