Third company sweepstakes for free rent readies to kick off

With housing market woes front and center in the news, many companies have snagged the spotlight by offering recession-friendly sweepstakes and prizes. Most New Yorkers are already familiar with the Daffy’s West Village apartment contest, which offers the winner a year of $700-per-month rent in a $7,000-per-month apartment. Snapple has a national contest in the same vein, awarding a $1,500 rental gift credits to its 30 prize winners, while text message marketing group Qittle is granting its grand prizer a year of free rent in an Aspen condo — complete with ski pass and bar tab. That contest commences in January.