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 Harlem

2139 Third Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

347 West 48th Street

$1,848 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

326 East 85th Street

$2,260 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

321 East 54th Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

50 Overlook Terrace

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Carnegie Hill

121 East 97th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Fort George

554 West 184th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

233 East 77th Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

67 Pitt Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

2807 Fredric Douglas Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

31 West 127th Street

$2,895 No Fee

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1.5

Yorkville

213 East 88th Street

$2,950 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

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

317 Lefferts Avenue

$2,152 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

1248 New York Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Sunset Park

5722 Seventh Avenue

$2,680 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

157 Erasmus Street

$2,575 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

180 72nd Street

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

274 Jefferson Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

191 73rd Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Greenpoint

621 Manhattan Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Prospect Heights

195 Underhill Avenue

$2,649 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

643 Madison Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1374 Bushwick Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bensonhurst

1738 78th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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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

Astoria

44-10 31st Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

31-09 21st Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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Astoria

25-81 36th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Astoria

31-16 Steinway Street

$2,399 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

105-28 65th Avenue

$2,695 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

19-79 76th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Oakland Gardens

223-06 65th Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Briarwood

85-15 Main Street

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Woodside

62-11 43rd Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

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2

Maspeth

61-45 56th Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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4

Astoria

25-18 Broadway

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,450 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

1409 Grand Avenue

$2,160 No Fee

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Hoboken

208 10th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1016 Willow Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

234 Hudson Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

331 Monroe Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

203 Washington Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

400 9th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

107 Garden Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

409 Bloomfield Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

921 Garden Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

619 Willow Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

530 Jefferson Street

$2,750 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

Jersey City

503 Cator Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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Journal Square

413 Summit Avenue

$2,442 No Fee

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Journal Square

39 High Street

$2,068 No Fee

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Journal Square

39 High Street

$2,616 No Fee

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Bergen/Lafayette

30 2 Vroom Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

328 Pacific Avenue

$2,693 No Fee

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1

West Side

270 Duncan Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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2

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

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McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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1

West Side

56 Glenwood Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

169 Martin Luther King Jr Drive

$1,800 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!