The Manhattan skyline. New York's apartment market has become super competitive as rent prices set records and vacancies stay low. Bloomberg
The Manhattan skyline. New York's apartment market has become super competitive as rent prices set records and vacancies stay low. Bloomberg
The Manhattan skyline. New York's apartment market has become super competitive as rent prices set records and vacancies stay low. Bloomberg
The Manhattan skyline. New York's apartment market has become super competitive as rent prices set records and vacancies stay low. Bloomberg

New York rents at record high as US property markets soar


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

Property rents are soaring across the US and have reached record highs in New York — the priciest city in the country.

The median one-bedroom rent throughout the city is up 39.9 per cent on the year, according to the Zumper National Rent Report, while the two-bedroom median is up 46.7 per cent.

The US has seen inflation reach a 40-year high this summer, although it has started to cool, with the consumer price index up 8.5 per cent year on year in July, down from a 9.1 per cent rise in June, the US Labour Department reported.

“Much of the national conversation about inflation has focused on groceries and gas — everyday purchases impacting nearly every American,” the Zumper report said.

“But people looking for a new home are suffering from the biggest sticker shock.”

Zumper’s data shows double-digit year annual increases in more than half of US cities, with several cities posting a rise of 30 per cent or more.

Only two cities registered a yearly decline in one-bedroom rent — Des Moines and Cleveland.

“Current asking rents are simply out of reach for many Americans, especially young people,” said Zumper chief executive Anthemos Georgiades.

Many renters are turning to short-term rentals to fill a temporary gap in housing, especially if they can't afford deposits and move-in fees, he said.

Within New York, there is no peak in sight as people relocate to the city in greater numbers than in pre-pandemic times, according to Zumper.

It said New York's median one-bedroom monthly rent of $3,930 is a record high for any city in the US and represents a 4 per cent monthly increase.

“Renters looking for a new home are experiencing the most competitive market in modern history, with bidding wars and sight-unseen lease signings becoming the norm,” the report said.

The median monthly rent for a one-bedroom property in the Brooklyn area has jumped 45 per cent annually to $3,927, while Manhattan recorded a 27 per cent year-on-year rise in median rent for a one-bedroom property.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell last week warned that the US economy would need tight monetary policy “for some time” to beat record-high inflation, and that American households and businesses will feel “some pain”.

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New York City Gilded Age mansion hits the market for $33m

  • NYC Gilded Age mansion lists for the first time in 40 years, asking $33 million. All photos: Christie's
    NYC Gilded Age mansion lists for the first time in 40 years, asking $33 million. All photos: Christie's
  • The home is located at 123 E, 35th Street in Murray Hill, between Park and Lexington avenues.
    The home is located at 123 E, 35th Street in Murray Hill, between Park and Lexington avenues.
  • The building is one of the largest single-family homes in New York.
    The building is one of the largest single-family homes in New York.
  • The mansion’s eight floors are connected by a mahogany staircase and wood-panelled lift.
    The mansion’s eight floors are connected by a mahogany staircase and wood-panelled lift.
  • The Lanier House was classified by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission as representative of the Parisian Beaux-Arts style.
    The Lanier House was classified by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission as representative of the Parisian Beaux-Arts style.
  • The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Palaces.
    The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Palaces.
  • The mansion has nine bedrooms, including five suites, seven full bathrooms, as well as staff bedrooms.
    The mansion has nine bedrooms, including five suites, seven full bathrooms, as well as staff bedrooms.
  • Architectural features include carved stonework, wrought-iron balustrades, a copper roof, Ionic pilasters and tiger oak double-doors.
    Architectural features include carved stonework, wrought-iron balustrades, a copper roof, Ionic pilasters and tiger oak double-doors.
  • Three skylights ensure the space has adequate natural light.
    Three skylights ensure the space has adequate natural light.
  • The Laniers were the mansion’s first owners when it was built more than a century ago.
    The Laniers were the mansion’s first owners when it was built more than a century ago.
  • It is unclear who currently owns the property.
    It is unclear who currently owns the property.
  • The mansion is on the market for $33 million.
    The mansion is on the market for $33 million.
  • The reception hall has a marble fountain and a rose medallion ceiling decked with a crystal chandelier.
    The reception hall has a marble fountain and a rose medallion ceiling decked with a crystal chandelier.
  • Amenities include a gym, sauna, pool, massage room, wine cellar, and a courtyard garden with ivy trellises and a stone fountain.
    Amenities include a gym, sauna, pool, massage room, wine cellar, and a courtyard garden with ivy trellises and a stone fountain.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Updated: August 30, 2022, 12:56 PM