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HotPads Guide: Map Search for Rooms, Sublets, Apartments and Houses
How to use HotPads, a Zillow Group rental site, to search apartments, houses, rooms and sublets on a map, plan for rental costs, and stay safe from scams.
HotPads is a rental search website that is part of Zillow Group. It is built around an interactive map, which makes it easy to focus on specific blocks or neighborhoods. It is especially useful if you are open to rooms, sublets or furnished corporate rentals in addition to standard apartments and houses.
What HotPads offers
HotPads lets you search apartments, houses, condos, townhouses, duplexes, rooms, sublets and corporate rentals in one place. After you enter a location, the map fills with listings. You can set a price range, the number of beds and baths, pet options and property types, and use additional filters for square footage, rental type and keywords such as furnished, pool or garage. You can also save searches and favorites, receive alerts and share listings with family or roommates.
How to search step by step
- Type a city, neighborhood or ZIP code into the search box.
- Zoom and pan the map, or draw area borders, to focus on the exact streets you want.
- Set your price range, beds, baths and pet needs.
- Open additional filters to choose rental types such as rooms or sublets, and add keywords for must-have features.
- Save the search and turn on alerts so new matches reach you quickly.
- Share promising listings with anyone who will live with you.
- Contact the landlord, ask detailed questions and arrange a tour before applying.
Costs and fees to expect
Searching on HotPads is free. Costs depend on the kind of rental you choose:
- Standard leases: expect an application or screening fee, a security deposit and the first month's rent.
- Rooms in shared homes: ask how rent, utilities, internet and household supplies are split, and whether you will sign a lease with the owner or with another tenant.
- Sublets: you may pay the original tenant rather than the landlord. Ask to see the original lease and written permission from the landlord to sublet.
- Corporate or furnished rentals: monthly rent is often higher because furniture and sometimes utilities are included, and cleaning fees may apply.
Get every payment amount and due date in writing. For shared homes, also agree in advance on house rules such as guests, quiet hours and cleaning, since these often cause more friction than rent itself.
Tips and rental-scam warnings
Rooms and sublets can be convenient, but they deserve extra care:
- Confirm the person renting to you has the right to do so; for sublets, ask for the landlord's written approval.
- Meet the people you will live with, in person or by video, before committing.
- Never pay with wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Be cautious of anyone who says they are away and will mail you the keys after payment.
- Search the address and the landlord's name online to see if the listing appears elsewhere with different details.
- Report suspicious listings to the site and to the Federal Trade Commission.
A quick check of ownership and permissions can prevent a costly mistake. When in doubt, ask the property owner or management company directly, using contact details you found yourself rather than ones supplied in the listing.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns HotPads?
HotPads is part of Zillow Group and is listed among Zillow's brands. This guide is independent of both.
Can I find rooms or sublets on HotPads?
Yes. HotPads includes rooms, sublets and corporate rentals in addition to apartments and houses.
Is subletting allowed everywhere?
Not always. Leases and local rules vary, so ask for the landlord's written permission before you sublet a unit.
Sources
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and may not fit your situation or country. Rules, prices and requirements change, so check the details with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Read our full disclaimer.