Please do let me know how I can get a refund as I purchased NYS but your system doesn't think that I need it even though I rented my place in NYC

Be sure to tell the software that you lived in NY and/or earned money there, in the personal section. To do so: 

1. When you login click 'Take me to my return'
2. Next, select the 'Personal Taxes' tab and then 'Continue'
3. You'll be on the summary page of your personal info and click 'Edit' by the first section with "Resident State"
4. Scroll down to "2. Tell us the state(s) you lived in" 
5. Go back to the summary screen and click 'Edit' under the last section 'Other state Income' to add income you earned in another state. This is usually the ultimate trigger for filing a state return.

However, if you know you need to file a return in a state, you can do so regardless.  To add a state:

1. When you login click 'Take me to my return'
2. Next, select the 'State Taxes' tab and then 'Continue'.
3. Now you'll be on the state tax summary page. Click '+ Add a state' to add a state return.