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

Yorkville

535 East 81st Street

$2,175 No Fee

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1

Turtle Bay

348 East 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Kips Bay

219 East 26th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

171 Avenue C

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

19 East 109th Street

$1,975 No Fee

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1

East Village

170 East 3rd Street

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

528 East 79th Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

West Village

29 Jones Street

$2,850 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

423 East 64th Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

159 East 99th Street

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Fort George

569 West 182nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Manhattanville

3333E Broadway

$2,495 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

Bensonhurst

8320 Bay Parkway

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,842 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

440 Wilson Avenue

$2,996 No Fee

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3

Bushwick

41 Melrose Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

901 Sterling Place

$2,195 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1889 Atlantic Avenue

$2,620 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

139 Rogers Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

1889 Atlantic Avenue

$2,440 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ditmas Park

585 East 21st Street

$2,375 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

154 Lenox Road

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Cobble Hill

155 Amity Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bushwick

1145 Greene Avenue

$2,899 No Fee

2 |

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

Oakland Gardens

61-25 219th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Woodside

63-11 Queens Boulevard

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-77 43rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Astoria

32-62 48th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

83-15 118th Street

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,599 No Fee

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1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-21 23rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

65-20 Booth Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Far Rockaway

11-27 Nameoke Street

$2,699 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!

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

Hoboken

802 Park Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1025 Willow Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

71 Jackson Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

219 Washington Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

108 Willow Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

606 Jefferson Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

313 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

935 Park Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

209 2nd Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

512 1st Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

205 3rd Street

$2,300 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.

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

Journal Square

32 Jones Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1.5

Bergen/Lafayette

316 Forrest Street

$1,999 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

316 Forrest Street

$2,299 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

316 Forrest Street

$2,699 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

160 Lafayette Street

$2,094 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

160 Lafayette Street

$2,625 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

275 Custer Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

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2.5

Historic Downtown

270 Montgomery Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

77 Randolph Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

79 Lexington Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

The Heights

36-38 Prospect Street

$1,850 No Fee

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1

West Side

21 Van Wagenen Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

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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!