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.

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Fort George

75 Ellwood Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

410 West 56th Street

$2,319 No Fee

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1

Little Italy

117 Mulberry Street

$2,875 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

223 E. 66th Street

$2,295 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

308 West 82nd Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

200 West 145th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Fort George

26 Sherman Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Chelsea

319 West 22nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

304 West 151st Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Kips Bay

221 East 32nd Street

$2,507 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

152 West 140th Street

$2,923 No Fee

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Central Harlem

236 West 135th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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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.

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Bushwick

1222 Bushwick Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

1120 Saint John’s Place

$2,999 No Fee

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1

Prospect Heights

363 Prospect Place

$2,861 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

2017 Caton Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

62 Martense Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Homecrest

2112 Avenue P

$2,862 No Fee

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2

Flatbush

2709 Clarendon Road

$2,999 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

96 De Sales Place

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

668 Bushwick Avenue

$2,779 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

519 Herkimer Street

$2,799 No Fee

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1

Clinton Hill

464 Clinton Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Midwood

1941 Coney is Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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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.

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Jackson Heights

37-50 77th Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Astoria

12-13 Astoria Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-12 36th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-77 Steinway Avenue

$2,275 No Fee

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1

Astoria

23-20 30 Drive

$2,650 No Fee

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Astoria

25-40 Shore Boulevard

$2,249 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

82-77 116th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-35 46th Street

$2,925 No Fee

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1

Jackson Heights

37-51 86th Street

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-60 42nd Street

$2,599 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-80 Steinway Street

$2,870 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

65-20 Booth Street

$2,500 No Fee

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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!

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Hoboken

906 Willow Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

320 Grand Street

$2,500 No Fee

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2

Hoboken

1034 Washington Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

727 Washington Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

330 Jackson Street

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

734 Adams Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

622 Park Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

527 Willow Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

204 8th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

359 3rd Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

56 Monroe Street

$2,531 No Fee

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Hoboken

721 Bloomfield Street

$2,750 No Fee

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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.

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Historic Downtown

329 5th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Jersey City

117 Virginia Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

9 Homestead Place

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

9 Homestead Place

$2,700 No Fee

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Journal Square

425 Summit Avenue

$2,861 No Fee

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West Side

151 Mallory Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Journal Square

425 Summit Avenue

$2,909 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,425 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,325 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

669 Bergen Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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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!