No-fee apartments are highly coveted among New York renters, with the promise of lower upfront costs creating less of a barrier for those looking to move. On average, more than half of StreetEasy’s rental listings are marked as “no fee,” though the share of no-fee listings fluctuates depending on the time of year. StreetEasy data shows that renters are least likely to find a no-fee apartment in June and July, when no-fee apartments comprise on average 50% of all listings. Meanwhile, renters are most likely to find a no-fee apartment in December and January, when close to 60% of listings advertise no-fee.

Though renters are more likely to pay a broker fee during the summer months, it’s still possible to find a no-fee apartment year-round. Likelihood of paying a broker fee also varies across neighborhoods and boroughs, with Brooklyn being the top borough to find a no-fee apartment. 

We’ve identified the neighborhoods with the highest share of no-fee listings, where renters are least likely to pay a broker fee.

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments

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

Bushwick

17 Kossuth Place

$2,900 base rent

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1065 Lafayette Avenue

$2,390 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

979 East 34th Street

$2,827 base rent

2 |

2

Flatbush

2337 Bedford Avenue

$2,567 base rent

1 |

1

Bushwick

1348 Hancock Street

$2,950 base rent

2 |

1

Weeksville

1373 Sterling Place

$2,275 base rent

1 |

1

Crown Heights

426 Eastern Parkway

$2,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

1094 Dean Street

$2,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

650 Marcy Avenue

$2,871 base rent

1 |

1

Bushwick

803 Wyckoff Avenue

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

81 Malcolm X Boulevard

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

2203 Clarendon Road

$2,751 base rent

2 |

1

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments <$3,000

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

East Harlem

249 East 118th Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

South Harlem

24 West 125th Street

$2,498 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

1856 Park Avenue

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

207 East 119th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

216 East 105th Street

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

275 West 144th Street

$2,200 base rent

2 |

1

Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$2,050 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

2866 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,550 base rent

2 |

1

South Harlem

201 West 119th Street

$2,900 base rent

3 |

1

East Harlem

315 East 108th Street

$2,100 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

151 East 106th Street

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Central Harlem

2809 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,700 base rent

3 |

1

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments $3,000+

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

Ridgewood

64-38 Catalpa Avenue

$2,950 base rent

2 |

1

Ridgewood

462 Seneca Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1.5

Ridgewood

60-79 Myrtle Avenue

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Ridgewood

53-68 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

Hunters Point

56-27 2nd Street

$2,299 base rent

1 |

1

Hunters Point

56-27 2nd Street

$1,347 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

148-36 89th Avenue

$1,600 base rent

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

64-58 Admiral Avenue

$2,800 base rent

2 |

1

Ridgewood

62-59 Forest Avenue

$2,750 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

144-06 88th Avenue

$2,131 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

166-25 89th Avenue

$1,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Jamaica

88-11 146th Street

$1,650 base rent

Studio |

1

What Is a Broker Fee?

Moving costs can look a little different in New York City. On top of the standard application fees (legally limited to $20 maximum), security deposit (legally limited to one month’s rent), and first month’s rent, New York renters may be charged a broker fee as well. This fee is a commission the broker earns for completing a transaction in which they successfully match a renter with an apartment. A renter will almost always pay a broker fee when they hire the broker to help them find an apartment. However, a renter may also have to pay a broker fee when the landlord hires the broker, as landlords are not required to cover this cost and may choose to charge the fee to the renter instead.

Broker fees usually range anywhere from one month’s rent to 15% of the annual rent, and the amount can vary from brokerage to brokerage and apartment to apartment. But this fee isn’t a given, and on average less than half of StreetEasy rental listings charge one. You can read more about broker fees here.

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

North New York

818 East 149th Street

$2,495 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

112 Lincoln Avenue

$2,037 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

112 Lincoln Avenue

$2,470 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,573 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,277 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,478 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,479 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,895 base rent

2 |

1

North New York

419 East 135th Street

$2,553 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,671 base rent

2 |

2

North New York

474 East 138th Street

$2,450 base rent

1 |

1

How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in NYC

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 no-fee apartment options.
• Look for listings by owner or by building management companies: When owners and building management companies list apartments themselves, that means there’s no broker involved, and therefore no broker fee. You’ll see the information about who listed the apartment just below the “Request a Tour” and “Ask a Question” buttons on a StreetEasy listing.
• Set up saved searches and email notifications: No-fee apartments are popular, so they often go fast. To ensure you’re seeing the most recent no-fee apartments as soon as they’re listed, create a saved search on StreetEasy with the parameters you’re looking for (make sure to check that no-fee box!) and sign up for notifications to get the latest listings sent directly to your email. When you see an apartment you like, reach out and ask for a tour ASAP. The earliest bird often gets the worm!

^{Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for informational purposes only and intended to reflect a snapshot in time.}