Why ‘RHONY’ Cast Member Daisy Toye Calls Her NYC Rent-Controlled Apartment With Popcorn Ceilings ‘Winning the Lottery’

Viewers of “The Real Housewives of New York City” have come to expect lavish homes from the cast members who have opened their doors to reality television camera crews, but new addition Daisy Toye is standing firm in her belief that in the right conditions, a humble apartment can be quite the asset.

On the Sept. 22 episode, the A-list makeup artist—whose clientele includes the likes of Martha Stewart—admitted that although her extensive wardrobe has outgrown the confines of her Battery Park City abode, she’s staying put.

When fellow cast member Jessel Taank remarked on the outdated popcorn ceilings of the unit, Toye opened up about her home’s history, explaining that her husband, hair stylist Eugene Toye, has lived there for 21 years, and she’s been there for 10.

As Taank continued to pry for details, she became shocked to learn that after more than two decades, the Toyes are still renting instead of owning.

“It’s a rent-controlled apartment,” Toye revealed in an interview during the episode. “This is winning the lottery in New York City.”

But how much is a rent-controlled apartment actually worth in the Big Apple? A lot, actually.

“Rent-controlled units are very rare in NYC, as they make up only about 1% of all occupied units in the city,” explains Realtor.com® economist Jiayi Xu.

Although Toye doesn’t reveal exactly how much her family shells out in rent each month—aside from a sarcastic remark that it’s about the same cost as a laser hair removal procedure—these gems are priced significantly lower than most New York City rentals.

“According to the most recent NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey, the median monthly rent for rent-controlled units runs 42.8% below the median rent for all NYC apartments,” Xu says. “Applying that gap to today’s citywide median asking rent of $3,707, a rent-controlled apartment would save a tenant roughly $1,587 per month, or about $19,044 per year.”

Those savings are certainly nothing to sneeze at, especially considering the length of time Toye and her husband have spent in the home.

With that said, there are a few additional nuances to keep in mind here. Firstly, the estimated $19,044 in savings is not a flat rate over time, as the savings were likely smaller in earlier years and have grown as housing costs rise.

Additionally, the 42.8% difference between median monthly rent and those of rent-controlled units was reported in 2021, and Xu explains that the gap has probably widened in recent years.

Finally, Toye’s savings might be even higher, as the 42.8% gap is in comparison to the citywide median rent, and her Battery Park City apartment is likely worth more than the average apartment.

As for what the future holds, Toye maintains that “for the moment, we’re happy here.” However, she shut down Taank’s line of questioning when asked to reveal exactly where she stores her clothing.

The popcorn ceilings debacle isn’t the first time Toye has received flak for her home in the mere three episodes she’s been on the show.

The season premiere opened with a scene where lifestyle expert Stewart visits Toye’s apartment to have her makeup done ahead of a luncheon.

“The first time Martha came to my house, I was so nervous. ‘Oh my god, it’s not nice enough.’ But like, now? I don’t care,” Toye shared. “Like, I live in a little two-bedroom apartment with popcorn ceilings. I don’t care. She loves it.”

While Toye maintained her “apartment’s always Martha Stewart ready,” the mogul had some pointers for how the space could be spruced up.

After criticizing the storebought apple pie on the kitchen counter, Stewart noted that Toye should rearrange the pots and pans she has hanging from the wall.

She also scoffed at a checkered Mackenzie-Childs kettle on the stovetop, remarking, “I hate that. It doesn’t go in here. So much to do in here.”