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

East Village

317 East 3rd Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

434 East 115th Street

$1,859 No Fee

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1

Carnegie Hill

163 East 92nd Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Gramercy Park

132 East 17th Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

328 East 93rd Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Midtown

57 West 58th Street

$2,480 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

95 Orchard Street

$2,595 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

535 Third Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

214 East 85th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

203 West 85th Street

$2,990 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

137 West 137th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

West Village

496 Hudson Street

$2,800 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.

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

Crown Heights

1140 Saint Johns Place

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Clinton Hill

104 Washington Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

140A Lexington Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Clinton Hill

104 Washington Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1054 Bushwick Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

East Flatbush

35 East 52nd Street

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

2709 Clarendon Road

$1,999 No Fee

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1

Ditmas Park

777 Coney Island Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Kensington

135 Ocean Parkway

$2,500 No Fee

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1

East Flatbush

1630 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,635 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1054 Bushwick Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Kensington

242 Newkirk Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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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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Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

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Bayside

47-09 215th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Jackson Heights

34-06 82nd Street

$1,995 No Fee

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1

Astoria

26-12 4th Street

$2,625 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

23-46 29th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

306 Onderdonk Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Astoria

30-40 21st Street

$2,850 No Fee

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Astoria

25-20 42nd Street

$2,195 No Fee

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1

Briarwood

140-21 Burden Crescent

$2,000 No Fee

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Briarwood

140-35 Burden Crescent

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Astoria

30-94 Crescent Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Sunnyside

52-05 39th Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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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

260 3rd Street

$2,850 No Fee

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Hoboken

918 Washington Street

$2,400 No Fee

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Hoboken

528 Washington Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

834 Hudson Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

526 Adams Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

403 1st Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

807 Clinton Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

153 1st Street

$2,950 No Fee

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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

Paulus Hook

105 Greene Street

$2,700 No Fee

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Jersey City

9 Bentley Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

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Bergen/Lafayette

112 Van Horne Street

$2,250 No Fee

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Bergen/Lafayette

53 Atlantic Street

$2,700 No Fee

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2

The Heights

30 Laidlaw Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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West Side

2193 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

97 Wade Street

$2,995 No Fee

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3

Bergen/Lafayette

14 Park Street

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

207 Bowers Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

3 Warner Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

207 Bowers Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

23 Westervelt Place

$2,000 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!