The 69-year-old actor and his wife Grace Hightower had to move out of their home in Central West Park in New York City in June after a blaze caused by a lint build-up in a clothes dryer spread across the building, reported New York Post online.
Despite originally planning to renovate they are now moving out permanently after it was deemed uninhabitable.
They had lined up a USD 100,000-a-month apartment to rent on the 64th floor of the Park Imperial, but the deal turned sour with De Niro claiming it was misrepresented to him.
"There was an issue with misrepresentation of the apartment and they managed to get out of the lease. The apartment went back on the market two days ago," a source said.
Grace has also been heard telling friends she and her husband are looking for a five-bedroom rental which has tons of closet space.