Naming a roommate on day one and adding someone in month four are different acts. New York Real Property Law 235-f covers occupants in many apartments. It is not a spare set of keys you hand to a friend in the lobby. Read the lease, then ask the leasing office how this building wants the name on file.
Occupant versus tenant
A tenant is on the lease and is liable for rent. An occupant under 235-f is a person the tenant may share with, subject to the statute's limits, including notice of the occupant's name. Dependent children of that occupant are part of the same framework. The landlord cannot collect extra rent solely because a 235-f occupant moved in. That is the statute, not a courtesy.
Adding someone as a second tenant is a lease amendment. Income, credit, and building approval can apply. Do not treat that as the same paperwork as a roommate notice. If you want the other person able to deal with management without you, you probably want them on the lease, not only in the apartment.
What to do before they arrive
Tell the leasing office the name and the date. Ask how fobs and the package room will work for that person. Do not wait until a doorman will not send them upstairs. Overnight guests are a separate question; a person who receives mail here is not a weekend visitor.
This is not a substitute for reading 235-f or talking to a lawyer about your facts. Buildings vary in how they process notice. The statute sets a floor. Your lease may still require written notice on a form.
Ask before you copy a key
If you are still shopping, name everyone who will live there on the application. If you already live here, call the office before the second bed shows up. Schedule a tour if you are comparing two-bedrooms for a roommate setup, or call (212) 684-3222.
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