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

Kips Bay

234 East 25th Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

East Village

171 Avenue C

$2,350 No Fee

Studio |

1

South Harlem

226 West 111st Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Lenox Hill

399 East 72nd Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

554 West 50th Street

$2,276 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

252 West 149th Street

$2,225 No Fee

2 |

1

Upper East Side

166 East 82nd Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

401 East 89th Street

$2,475 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

338 East 14th Street

$2,829 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

115 West 117th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1.5

Hell’s Kitchen

537 West 49th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

306 East 83rd Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

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

Midwood

1535 East 14th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Greenwood

650 Sixth Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Greenwood

643 Sixth Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

1836 Park Place

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

561 East 26th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Bushwick

287 Cornelia Street

$2,175 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

1471 Nostrand Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

1792 Ocean Avenue

$2,429 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

1792 Ocean Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

2

Flatbush

286 Linden Boulevard

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

321 Pulaski Street

$2,550 No Fee

2 |

1

Williamsburg

53 Graham Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

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

37-15 30th Avenue

$1,985 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-42 Steinway Street

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

1.5

Astoria

30-24 49th Street

$2,499 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

34-33 43rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

25-37 43rd Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Elmhurst

90-02 Queens Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Elmhurst

90-02 Queens Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Glendale

65-05 Central Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-21 31st Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

28-23 42nd Street

$1,812 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

45-56 42nd Street

$2,375 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

76-16 Grand Central Parkway

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

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

1021 Grand Street

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

155 14th Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

500 Monroe Street

$2,785 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

923 Willow Avenue

$2,960 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

709 Willow Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

815 Park Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

733 Bloomfield Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

729 Garden Street

$2,950 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

410 Washington Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

414 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

313 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

327 Jackson Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

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

60 Cottage Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Paulus Hook

155 Washington Street

$2,964 No Fee

1 |

1

Paulus Hook

155 Washington Street

$2,361 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jersey City

179 Neptune Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

0

Historic Downtown

160 Morgan Street

$2,608 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

509B Ocean Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

4 |

1

Jersey City

171 Ocean Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Journal Square

135 Van Wagenen Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

332 Communipaw Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

2

Jersey City

224 Garfield Avenue

$2,775 No Fee

2 |

2

West Side

14 Van Wagenen Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

3 |

1

Jersey City

434 Wayne Street

$1,950 No Fee

2 |

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!