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

South Harlem

28 West 125th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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South Harlem

15 West 116th Street

$2,967 No Fee

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South Harlem

15 West 116th Street

$2,634 No Fee

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Midtown

57 West 58th Street

$2,495 No Fee

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Gramercy Park

146 East 16th Street

$2,850 No Fee

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Roosevelt Island

546 Main Street

$2,450 No Fee

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South Harlem

217 West 123rd Street

$2,708 No Fee

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Upper West Side

304 West 75th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Turtle Bay

246 East 51st Street

$2,720 No Fee

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East Village

215 Avenue A

$2,700 No Fee

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Hamilton Heights

58 Hamilton Place

$2,300 No Fee

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Manhattan Valley

844 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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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

1508 Bedford Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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Flatbush

2069 Nostrand Avenue

$2,696 No Fee

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Crown Heights

911 Nostrand Avenue

$2,874 No Fee

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Bushwick

1223 Putnam Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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Sunset Park

441 63rd Street

$2,550 No Fee

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East New York

51 Berriman Street

$2,399 No Fee

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Bedford-Stuyvesant

13 Hart Street

$2,695 No Fee

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Weeksville

1573 Lincoln Place

$2,600 No Fee

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Crown Heights

2079 Pacific Street

$2,900 No Fee

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East Flatbush

126 East 54th Street

$2,550 No Fee

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Crown Heights

635 Saint Mark’s Avenue

$2,635 No Fee

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Ditmas Park

684 East 21st Street

$2,350 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.

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

Queens Village

217-19B Hillside Avenue

$1,920 No Fee

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Ditmars-Steinway

24-59 27th Street

$2,550 No Fee

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Astoria

25-52 38th Street

$2,175 No Fee

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Astoria

27-21 23rd Street

$2,450 No Fee

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Maspeth

53-83 69th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Rockaway All

122-20 Ocean Pm

$2,260 No Fee

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Ridgewood

1859 Madison Street

$1,950 No Fee

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Long Island City

38-11 31st Street

$2,745 No Fee

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-54 Crescent Street

$2,299 No Fee

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Astoria

30-70 32nd Street

$2,250 No Fee

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Sunnyside

41-16 47th Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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Jackson Heights

30-14 72nd Street

$2,690 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

832 Bloomfield Street

$2,900 No Fee

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Hoboken

912 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

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Hoboken

68 Monroe Street

$2,900 No Fee

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Hoboken

450 7th Street

$2,875 No Fee

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Hoboken

520 Garden Street

$2,600 No Fee

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Hoboken

1014 Willow Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Hoboken

513 Monroe Street

$2,795 No Fee

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Hoboken

939 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

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Hoboken

617 Bloomfield Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Hoboken

502 2nd Street

$2,750 No Fee

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Hoboken

159 Newark Street

$2,700 No Fee

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Hoboken

205 Garden Street

$2,188 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

Jersey City

84 Waldo Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

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The Heights

164 Ogden Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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Jersey City

216 Halladay Street

$2,100 No Fee

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Jersey City

15 Seaview Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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Historic Downtown

524 Jersey Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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The Heights

145 New York Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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Jersey City

38 Carlton Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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Newport

55 River Drive South

$2,907 No Fee

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Paulus Hook

270 Luis M Marin Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

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Bergen/Lafayette

660 Grand Street

$2,200 No Fee

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Historic Downtown

291 8th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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Jersey City

113 Dwight Street

$2,500 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!