Apartment hunting in New York City can be complicated thanks to NYC real estate-specific jargon. One such term you’ve likely come across is “no-fee apartment.” What does that mean? Well, using a broker to help you find a rental is standard ― but it’s not free. Typically, someone has to pay for the broker’s services, and in NYC, who pays that fee can vary from apartment to apartment. Here’s everything you need to know about no-fee apartments in NYC.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Sutton Place

1047 Second Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fort George

9 Thayer Street

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

East Village

512 East 12th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Upper West Side

253 West 91st Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Noho

302 Mott Street

$2,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

11 East 66th Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

438 East 77th Street

$2,849 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

16 West 119th Street

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

328 East 6th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

414 East 11th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

629 West 170th Street

$2,146 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

437 West 48th Street

$2,550 No Fee

Studio |

1

What Is a No-Fee Apartment Listing?

When searching for a place, you’ll likely come across apartment listings that loudly declare “no fee!” You’ll also encounter many listings that don’t. So what’s the difference? 

In very basic terms, a no-fee apartment is an apartment where the tenant doesn’t pay a commission or broker fee. But, like so many things in NYC real estate, there’s more to know.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Ocean Hill

145 Rockaway Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

Midwood

1277 E 14th Street

$2,773 No Fee

1 |

1

Park Slope

374 Seventh Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Greenwood

208 18th Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

181 Hawthorne Street

$2,367 No Fee

1 |

1

Park Slope

208 Saint John’s Place

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

225 Howard Avenue

$2,122 No Fee

1 |

1

Borough Park

1062 62nd Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Park Slope

191 16th Street

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

1 Lenox Road

$2,954 No Fee

1 |

1

Park Slope

216 Sixth Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

538 Willoughby Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

What’s the Difference Between Broker Fees and Commissions?

“The terms ‘broker fee’ and ‘commission’ are interchangeable,” says Becki Danchik, a StreetEasy Expert and broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg. “It’s the fee a broker earns on completing a transaction in which they match the right person with the right property. A no-fee apartment is typically when the landlord has agreed to pay that fee to the exclusive listing agent on behalf of the tenant.” A landlord will usually do this in the hope of securing a tenant quickly, she explains.

Landlords Have Brokers

Keep in mind, though, that “no fee” applies only to the landlord’s broker, also known as the listing agent, and landlords are not required to cover that cost (more on this shortly). Here’s how it works: if you approach an apartment’s listing agent directly and secure the no-fee apartment on your own, then great — you don’t pay a fee! But if you enlisted the services of a broker (who is not the listing agent), and you found that apartment through that broker, you owe them their commission, whether the apartment says “no fee” or not.

Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Flushing

143-51 Roosevelt Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Flushing

42-15 College Point Boulevard

$1,925 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

72-81 113th Street

$1,850 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

21-09 33rd Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Oakland Gardens

68-17 Cloverdale Lane

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

1

Forest Hills

110-33 72nd Avenue

$1,985 No Fee

Studio |

1

Forest Hills

104-01 Union Turnpike

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Elmhurst

43-05 Forley Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

12-15 Broadway

$2,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kew Gardens

85-18 118th Street

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

Fresh Meadows

188-02 64th Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

Studio |

1

Sunnyside

45-23 43rd Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

What Is a Broker Fee?

Now that you understand the definition of no-fee apartment, you’d probably like to know how apartments with fees work. In short, renters who use a broker to find an apartment have to pay a broker fee. If you hire a broker who successfully finds you an apartment, they’ll earn an agreed-upon commission on the deal.

How Much Are Broker Fees for Renters?

The cost varies by broker and area. For instance, fees charged for Manhattan rentals may be more expensive than units in Queens, which has a lower median asking rent. Broker fees are somewhat negotiable, but generally, it’s either one month’s rent or up to 15% of the unit’s annual rent. That’s on top of paying your first month’s rent and security deposit. FYI: your security deposit can’t be more than one month’s rent.

Wait, Weren’t Broker Fee Abolished?

New York State changed the broker fee regulations with the Statewide Housing Security & Tenant Protection Act of 2019. The guidance issued stated that a prospective tenant can’t compensate a landlord’s agent (aka listing agent). It would have been a substantial cost-saving measure for future renters ― but a judge struck it down in April 2021, ruling that the state misinterpreted the act. 

Sample Move-In Costs with a Broker’s Fee

Property owners or management companies will often ask for first month’s rent and a security deposit, in addition to the broker’s fee, before you can move in to a new apartment. Here is the estimated cost breakdown for a $3,799/month (NYC’s median asking rent as of July 2023 — to see the latest median asking rent for a particular neighborhood, visit our StreetEasy Data Dashboard) apartment with a 12 percent broker’s fee (percentage of total annual cost) — before even moving in!

Hoboken Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Hoboken

354 1st Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

163 3rd Street

$2,653 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

126 Garden Street

$2,550 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

328 Monroe Street

$2,320 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

1115 Willow Avenue

$2,775 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

102 Washington Street

$2,680 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

1200 Washington Street

$2,689 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

615 Park Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

235 Monroe Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

118 Adams Street

$2,575 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

306 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

912 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

2 |

1

How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in NYC 

You’ve decided you want to avoid paying a broker fee. Now, you’re probably wondering how to find a no-fee apartment. Here are a few options:

• Use the no-fee apartment filter on StreetEasy: You can easily check the “no-fee only” box during your StreetEasy search to yield only apartment options without a broker fee. It will narrow your search to only those units.
• Look for apartments listed by owners or management companies: A management rep is essentially an in-house broker — their goal is to find ideal tenants for their apartments. So, if you contact them directly, there shouldn’t be a fee. Just remember, property management companies rent apartments only in their specific buildings. Brokers, on the other hand, can have access to rentals in a variety of places.
• Walk around the neighborhood: If you know the neighborhood you’re interested in, walk around it to see if buildings have posted listing signs. They should have the landlord or management company’s contact information. Call them and see if there are apartments available or if any are coming up.

Jersey City Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Jersey City

122 Jewett Avenue

$2,275 No Fee

2 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

548 Bramhall Avenue

$1,850 No Fee

Studio |

0

Jersey City

253 Sherman Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

3 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

316 Forrest Street

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

2

The Heights

30 Beacon Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

280 Luis Marin Boulevard

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Journal Square

66 Romaine Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

184 Terrace Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

West Side

128 Dekalb Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

3 |

2

Journal Square

2976 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

West Side

248 Duncan Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Historic Downtown

9 Regent Street

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Do No-Fee Apartments Save You Money?

Surface level, it seems that no-fee apartments would be less expensive to rent than fee apartments. But there is some debate as to whether no-fee rentals save renters money, particularly when it comes to luxury rentals. Many buildings like these are no-fee, but cost much more per month because they have desirable amenities such as doormen, fitness centers, and outdoor space. It’s also possible that for a no-fee apartment, the broker fee is baked into your rent and you end up paying more per month — but it still saves you on upfront move-in costs.

Whatever you decide, be sure to search for your dream rental on StreetEasy!