# Rentcafe Scraper (`shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper`) Actor Scrape Rentcafe rental listings instantly. Track property prices, market trends & competitor data. Export to JSON/CSV for real estate analysis, investment research & pricing intelligence. Essential for property managers, brokers & market researchers. - **URL**: https://apify.com/shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Shahid Irfan](https://apify.com/shahidirfan) (community) - **Categories:** Real estate, Automation, Developer tools - **Stats:** 4 total users, 2 monthly users, 83.3% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## RentCafe Scraper Extract listing data from RentCafe pages in a structured dataset. Collect core property information such as rent ranges, bedroom and bathroom ranges, area, availability signals, and listing links. This scraper is built for market research, lead generation, and rental inventory monitoring. ### Features - **Flexible URL support** — Works with RentCafe listing and search page URL patterns. - **Automatic context discovery** — Detects API context from page/network responses without manual token input. - **Rich property coverage** — Capture pricing ranges, bedroom and bathroom ranges, area, and listing metadata. - **Clean dataset output** — Saves records without null-only fields for easier downstream use. - **Deduplicated records** — Removes duplicates across captured listing payloads. - **Proxy-ready runs** — Supports proxy configuration for stable production scraping. ### Use Cases #### Rental Market Research Track apartment inventory and pricing by city to understand market positioning and rent distribution. #### Lead List Building Build structured property datasets with URLs, addresses, and contact-ready metadata. #### Competitor Monitoring Monitor listing updates and compare available inventory ranges across target markets. #### Data Pipelines Feed clean listing records into dashboards, spreadsheets, and automation workflows. ### Input Parameters | Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description | |-----------|------|----------|---------|-------------| | `startUrl` | String | No | `https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/` | Main RentCafe URL to scrape. | | `url` | String | No | — | Optional alias for `startUrl`. | | `results_wanted` | Integer | No | `20` | Maximum number of records to save. | | `max_pages` | Integer | No | `1` | Safety cap for pagination attempts. | | `proxyConfiguration` | Object | No | Apify Proxy Residential | Proxy settings for reliability. | --- ### Output Data Each dataset item can include: | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `property_name` | String | Name of the apartment property. | | `property_id` | Number | Property identifier when available. | | `property_code` | String | Property code when available. | | `address` | String | Street address. | | `city` | String | City of the listing. | | `state` | String | State of the listing. | | `zip_code` | String | Postal code. | | `full_address` | String | Combined address value. | | `site_url` | String | Property site URL. | | `detail_url` | String | Property details URL. | | `phone` | String | Contact phone if available. | | `latitude` | Number | Latitude coordinate. | | `longitude` | Number | Longitude coordinate. | | `min_bedrooms` | Number | Minimum listed bedrooms. | | `max_bedrooms` | Number | Maximum listed bedrooms. | | `min_bathrooms` | Number | Minimum listed bathrooms. | | `max_bathrooms` | Number | Maximum listed bathrooms. | | `min_rent` | Number | Minimum listed rent. | | `max_rent` | Number | Maximum listed rent. | | `min_area_sqft` | Number | Minimum listed area in sqft. | | `max_area_sqft` | Number | Maximum listed area in sqft. | | `available_units_count` | Number | Availability or waitlist count when present. | | `amenities` | Array | Amenities list when available. | | `image_url` | String | Listing image URL. | | `specials_available` | Boolean | Special offers flag when available. | | `is_fully_occupied` | Boolean | Occupancy signal when available. | | `featured_property` | Boolean | Featured listing signal when available. | | `source_page_url` | String | Page URL where the data was captured. | | `source_api_url` | String | Source response URL for captured data. | | `scraped_at` | String | ISO timestamp when the record was extracted. | --- ### Usage Examples #### Basic Run ```json { "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "results_wanted": 20 } ```` #### Different RentCafe URL Type ```json { "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/houses-for-rent/us/ca/san-diego/", "results_wanted": 40, "max_pages": 2 } ``` #### Alias URL Field ```json { "url": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/chicago-il/", "results_wanted": 25, "max_pages": 2 } ``` ### Sample Output ```json { "property_name": "Example Towers", "property_id": 123456, "property_code": "p000123", "address": "100 Example Ave", "city": "New York", "state": "NY", "zip_code": "10001", "full_address": "100 Example Ave, New York, NY, 10001", "site_url": "https://www.exampletowers.com/", "detail_url": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/example-towers/", "min_bedrooms": 1, "max_bedrooms": 3, "min_bathrooms": 1, "max_bathrooms": 2, "min_rent": 2450, "max_rent": 4290, "min_area_sqft": 620, "max_area_sqft": 1380, "available_units_count": 12, "source_page_url": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "source_api_url": "https://api.example.com/search", "scraped_at": "2026-03-28T10:30:22.119Z" } ``` ### Tips for Best Results #### Use Stable Listing URLs - Use valid city listing URLs from RentCafe. - Start with one URL, then scale to multiple URLs. #### Keep QA-Sized Runs Fast - Use `results_wanted: 20` for quick verification runs. - Increase record count for production jobs as needed. #### Prefer Residential Proxies - Residential proxies improve reliability on protected targets. - Keep default proxy settings for stable cloud runs. ### Integrations Connect extracted data with: - **Google Sheets** — Share rental datasets with teams. - **Airtable** — Build searchable inventory tables. - **Make** — Trigger downstream workflows. - **Zapier** — Send listing updates to business apps. - **Webhooks** — Push results to custom endpoints. #### Export Formats - **JSON** — Best for APIs and automation. - **CSV** — Ideal for spreadsheet analysis. - **Excel** — Business reporting and sharing. - **XML** — Legacy workflow compatibility. ### Frequently Asked Questions #### Why is the dataset empty? This usually means the source did not return listing data for your run settings. Confirm URL validity and use residential proxy settings. #### Do I need to provide an API token? No. The actor discovers API context automatically from page and network data. #### How many records can I collect? You can increase `results_wanted` as needed, depending on source availability. #### Does the actor remove null values? Yes. Output records are saved with null and empty fields removed. ### Support For issues or feature requests, open a discussion in your Apify actor management workflow. #### Resources - [Apify Documentation](https://docs.apify.com/) - [Apify API Reference](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) - [Schedules](https://docs.apify.com/platform/schedules) ### Legal Notice This actor is intended for legitimate data collection and analytics workflows. You are responsible for complying with applicable laws, website terms, and data usage policies. # Actor input Schema ## `startUrl` (type: `string`): RentCafe listing/search URL to start from. ## `results_wanted` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of listing records to save. ## `max_pages` (type: `integer`): Safety cap for pagination attempts. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Residential proxies are strongly recommended for reliable runs. ## Actor input object example ```json { "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "results_wanted": 20, "max_pages": 1, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `overview` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "results_wanted": 20, "max_pages": 1 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "results_wanted": 20, "max_pages": 1, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "startUrl": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/", "results_wanted": 20, "max_pages": 1 }' | apify call shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=shahidirfan/rentcafe-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Rentcafe Scraper", "description": "Scrape Rentcafe rental listings instantly. Track property prices, market trends & competitor data. Export to JSON/CSV for real estate analysis, investment research & pricing intelligence. Essential for property managers, brokers & market researchers.", "version": "1.1", "x-build-id": "g3TiBHwojyCAOU8iy" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/shahidirfan~rentcafe-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-shahidirfan-rentcafe-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/shahidirfan~rentcafe-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-shahidirfan-rentcafe-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/shahidirfan~rentcafe-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-shahidirfan-rentcafe-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "startUrl": { "title": "Start URL", "type": "string", "description": "RentCafe listing/search URL to start from.", "default": "https://www.rentcafe.com/apartments-for-rent/new-york-city-ny/" }, "results_wanted": { "title": "Maximum number of records", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of listing records to save.", "default": 20 }, "max_pages": { "title": "Maximum number of pages", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Safety cap for pagination attempts.", "default": 1 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Residential proxies are strongly recommended for reliable runs.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```