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

Upper West Side

566 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

519 East 81st Street

$2,798 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

2364 F Douglas Boulevard

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Lower East Side

67 Pitt Street

$2,695 No Fee

1 |

1

Kips Bay

350 East 30th Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

314 East 80th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

4 West 126th Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

101 Allen Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Manhattan Valley

220 West 104th Street

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

411 West 44th Street

$2,980 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

92 Wadsworth Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

3 |

1

Yorkville

423 East 82nd Street

$2,995 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

Sunset Park

4721 Eighth Avenue

$2,580 No Fee

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2

Greenwood

185 20th Street

$2,075 No Fee

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1

Ditmas Park

615 East 17th Street

$2,837 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

1620 New York Avenue

$2,933 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Kensington

478 East 7th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

643 Madison Street

$2,675 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

2427 Dean Street

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Park Slope

138 Saint Marks Place

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bushwick

8 Palmetto Street

$2,997 No Fee

2 |

1

Bay Ridge

565 85th Street

$1,995 No Fee

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1

Flatlands

2265 Utica Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

2 |

1

Fort Hamilton

260 88th Street

$2,000 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

48-16 30th Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Woodside

41-15 53rd Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Rockaway All

122-20 Ocean Pm

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Astoria

32-28 47th Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Flushing

35-01 191st Street

$2,435 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

61-25 98th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Sunnyside

50-05 43rd Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Briarwood

84-10 Main Street

$1,875 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

32-75 46th Street

$2,599 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

21-05 38th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

64-54 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Maspeth

62-83 60 Road

$2,700 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

502 2nd Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

327 Jackson Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

327 Jackson Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

116 Clinton Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

305 Park Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

86 Monroe Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

307 Monroe Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

527 Jefferson Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

461 4th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

461 4th Street

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

124 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

1032 Park Avenue

$2,475 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

Jersey City

126 Randolph Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

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1.5

West Side

25 Duncan Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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2

Journal Square

10 Huron Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

69 Lincoln Street

$2,499 No Fee

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2

West Side

21 Reed Street

$1,945 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

10 Huron Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

2465 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Boulevard

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

413-415 9th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

225 Wilkinson Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

3 |

1

Journal Square

211 Baldwin Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

211 Baldwin Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

211 Baldwin Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

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!