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

Flatbush

2708 Snyder Avenue

$2,979 No Fee

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

465 Kosciusko Street

$2,895 No Fee

2 |

1

Crown Heights

905 Sterling Place

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

554 Gates Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

643 Madison Street

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

30 Rogers Avenue

$2,862 No Fee

2 |

1

Prospect Heights

195 Underhill Avenue

$2,649 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flatbush

270 Clarkson Avenue

$1,949 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

294 Tompkins Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

3 |

1

Weeksville

1373 Sterling Place

$1,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

1612 New York Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

217 Macon Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

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

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

East Harlem

375 Pleasant Avenue

$2,142 No Fee

2 |

1

Central Harlem

2600 7th Avenue

$2,833 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

101 Macombs Place

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

1912 Third Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

South Harlem

251 West 117th Street

$2,895 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

2657 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,700 No Fee

3 |

1

Central Harlem

2655 Frederic Douglas Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

2

Central Harlem

100 West 139th Street

$2,195 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

2147 Second Avenue

$2,698 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

154 East 110th Street

$1,800 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hudson Yards

495 Ninth Avenue

$2,521 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

665 Lenox Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

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

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

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,520 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,844 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,588 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,604 No Fee

2 |

1

Ridgewood

17-17 Himrod Street

$2,902 No Fee

2 |

1

Ridgewood

1864 Himrod Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

148-05 89th Avenue

$1,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Long Island City

41-22 24th Street

$2,672 No Fee

Studio |

1

Long Island City

36-10 9th Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy R Brewer Boulevard

$2,057 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

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,254 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,989 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,399 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,519 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

352 East 139th Street

$2,458 No Fee

3 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,215 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

25 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,121 No Fee

Studio |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,558 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,538 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,581 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,319 No Fee

Studio |

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.}