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

Crown Heights

2304 Atlantic Avenue

$1,962 No Fee

2 |

1

Weeksville

1688 Sterling Place

$2,409 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

481A Willoughby Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,842 No Fee

2 |

1

Bushwick

440 Wilson Avenue

$2,996 No Fee

3 |

3

Bushwick

41 Melrose Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Crown Heights

901 Sterling Place

$2,195 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1889 Atlantic Avenue

$2,620 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

139 Rogers Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1889 Atlantic Avenue

$2,440 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flatbush

154 Lenox Road

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bushwick

1145 Greene Avenue

$2,899 No Fee

2 |

1

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

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

East Harlem

19 East 109th Street

$1,975 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

159 East 99th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

309 East 104th Street

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

209 East 110th Street

$2,457 No Fee

2 |

1

Central Harlem

2807 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,438 No Fee

2 |

1

Central Harlem

69 East 125th Street

$2,695 No Fee

1 |

1

Hudson Yards

488 Ninth Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

336 East 112nd Street

$2,822 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

2166 Fred Douglas Boulevard

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

1992 Third Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

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

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

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,865 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,344 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,475 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,083 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

60-61 Palmetto Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

1925 Cornelia Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

1941 Gates Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

1077 Seneca Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

2

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

1 |

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

133 Brown Place

$1,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,769 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,692 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,558 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,538 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

555 East 137th Street

$2,849 No Fee

3 |

1

Mott Haven

5 Lincoln Avenue

$2,961 No Fee

2 |

1

Mott Haven

329 East 132nd Street

$2,042 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

101 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

101 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

2

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.}