Renting

Still need to land a Sept. 1 lease? These rentals are available — and aren’t listed anywhere yet.

A lesser-known tip could cut down on the competition during your search.

An apartment for rent sign. Adobe Stock

May 7, 2025

2 minutes to read

If you’re among the thousands of Bostonians moving into a new apartment on Sept. 1, you know that the hunt begins long before that. Not only do about two-thirds of all leases in the city turn over on this date, but these leases can be signed as early as seven months in advance.

For those still searching in May and June, the competition likely feels stiff, as renters vie for places with dishwashers and in-unit laundry. But there’s a lesser-known tip that could have you signing on the dotted line much faster: According to Tony DiMarsico, a property manager with Certified Property Management and broker at NFP Realty, it pays to do a little outreach.

“As a property manager myself, I can tell you: We usually know which units will be turning over before anything goes live online,” he told Boston.com in April. “In fact, I already have a list of September 1 availabilities that aren’t posted anywhere yet. A quick email or call to a management company can sometimes get you ahead of the pack.”

Before reaching out, confirm that the company manages rentals. Not all property management companies handle individual units — some only manage condo associations or HOAs — so you should check their website or social media first. “Look for dedicated ‘rentals’ pages on Instagram and Facebook accounts that showcase available units,” he said.

Once you’ve checked, consider starting with a cold email and, if necessary, following up with a phone call. “Most people in property management live in their inboxes, so email is a great first step. If you don’t hear back within a few days, a polite follow-up call can go a long way,” DiMarsico said. At CFP, he adds, their receptionist knows which units are rentals and can forward inquiries to the right people.

As for what to write in your email, he recommended keeping it short while also noting your specific needs so they can match you with the right apartment faster. You could try something like:

“Hi, I’m looking for an apartment and wanted to check if you have any upcoming rentals not yet listed. If possible, I’d love to be added to any waitlist or notified when something becomes available. Here’s my contact info and what I’m looking for:

[Budget]
[Move-in date]
[Area or neighborhood]
[Email and phone number]

Here, DiMarsico shared three available units that aren’t listed anywhere yet.

121 Green St #104, Jamaica Plain

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Price: $4,200 per month

62 Cypress Street #3, Brookline

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1

Price: $4,300 per month

36 Symphony Road Unit 1-A, Boston

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1.5

Price: $5,400 per month

Interested in one of them? You can reach out to [email protected].

Madeline Bilis

Madeline Bilis is a freelance journalist based in Boston, where she covers real estate, travel, and design. She will always defend the city’s brutalist buildings.

Still need to land a Sept. 1 lease? These rentals are available — and aren’t listed anywhere yet.