More than 65% of New York City residents are renters, so whether it is your first time searching for an apartment or the 10th, you are not alone. Our guide to renting in NYC shares everything you need to know about the ins and outs of renting, from how much rent you can afford to tips for breaking a lease (hey, it happens!).
Other topics covered in this guide to renting in NYC include how to go about finding the best apartment for you (and roommates if you need them), what to expect at a lease signing, paperwork and fees you'll need to rent a place, whether you should use a broker, and much more.
Ready to search for your new apartment? Start here.
Apartment hunting in New York City can be complicated thanks to real estate-specific jargon. And one such term you’ve likely come across is a 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 their time, as the following explains.
Table of Contents
Downtown Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
West Village
1 Bank Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$2,850No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
309 East 9th Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$2,995No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
118 Macdougal Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Little Italy
124 Mott Street
$2,050No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
280 East 7th Street
$2,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Two Bridges
84 Madison Street
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
340 East 5th Street
$2,795No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
150 Orchard Street
$2,350No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
201 Sullivan Street
$2,950No Fee
Studio |
1
Little Italy
163 Mulberry Street
$2,770No Fee
Studio |
1
What Is a No-Fee Apartment Listing?
When searching for a place, you will likely come across apartment listings that loudly declare “no-fee!” You will 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’s fee. But, like so many things in NYC real estate, there’s more to know.
Brooklyn Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Bedford-Stuyvesant
598 Marcy Avenue
$2,399No Fee
3 |
1
Crown Heights
945 Park Place
$2,395No Fee
2 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
33 Vernon Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Crown Heights
1159 Saint John’s Place
$2,999No Fee
2 |
1
Sunset Park
4114 9th Avenue
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Sunset Park
845 43rd Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Crown Heights
824 Saint John’s Place
$2,795No Fee
1 |
1
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
146 Fenimore Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
East Flatbush
1138 East 53rd Street
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
217 Ralph Avenue
$1,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Canarsie
778 Snediker Avenue
$2,599No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
537 Central Avenue
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1.5
What Is the Difference Between Broker’s Fees and Commissions?
“The terms’ broker’s fee’ and ‘commission’ are interchangeable,” says Becki Danchik of Warburg Realty. “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 that 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 $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Woodside
37-80 64th Street
$1,800No Fee
3 |
1
Sunnyside
39-75 50th Street
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-57 33rd Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
42-15 43rd Avenue
$1,825No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill (Queens)
163-15 Depot Road
$2,400No Fee
3 |
2
Rockaway All
477 Beach 45th Street
$2,700No Fee
3 |
1
Glendale
70-38 68 Place
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Rego Park
97-50 Queens Boulevard
$2,425No Fee
1 |
1
Rego Park
98-05 67th Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
50-12 46th Street
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
Woodside
55-06 39th Avenue
$2,100No Fee
2 |
1
Whitestone
150-48 20 Road
$2,900No Fee
3 |
1.5
What Is a Broker’s Fee?
Now that you understand the definition of a no-fee apartment, you’d probably like to know how units with fees work. In short, renters who use a broker to find an apartment have to pay a broker’s fee. How does it work? If you hire a broker who successfully finds you an apartment, they will earn an agreed-upon commission on the deal.
Last year the state changed the broker fee regulations with the Statewide Housing Security & Tenant Protection Act of 2019. The guidance issued states that a prospective tenant can’t compensate a landlord’s agent (aka listing agent). It would have been substantial cost savings for future renters. But a judge ruled in April 2021 that the state misinterpreted the act.
Hoboken Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Hoboken
512 Observer Highway
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
343 Garden Street
$1,920No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
307 Monroe Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
308 Madison Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
2
Hoboken
711 Willow Avenue
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
1034 Washington Street
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Hoboken
830 Monroe Street
$2,250No Fee
2 |
2
Hoboken
305 Park Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
120 Jackson Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
324 Monroe Street
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Hoboken
104 5th Street
$2,550No Fee
2 |
1
Hoboken
60 Monroe Street
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in NYC
You’ve decided not to use a broker and pay the fee. Now, you’re probably wondering how to find a no-fee apartment. Here are a few options:
Contact a building’s management company directly: 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 will have the landlord or management company’s contact information. Call them and see if there are apartments available or if any are coming up.
Use the No-Fee Apartment Filter on StreetEasy: You can easily check the “no-fee only” box during your StreetEasy search to yield only no-fee apartment options. It will narrow your search to only those units.
Jersey City Rentals Under $3000Article continues below
The Heights
105 Columbia Avenue
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Jersey City
28 Vroom Street
$2,150No Fee
Studio |
1
The Heights
10 Abbett Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Jersey City
324 4th Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Bergen/Lafayette
31 Belmont Street
$1,975No Fee
2 |
2
McGinley Square
55 Jordan Avenue
$2,125No Fee
1 |
1
McGinley Square
55 Jordan Avenue
$1,975No Fee
Studio |
1
Historic Downtown
133 Wayne Street
$2,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Jersey City
231 Hutton Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Jersey City
231 Hutton Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Jersey City
337 Princeton Avenue
$1,898No Fee
2 |
1
The Heights
1089 Summit Avenue
$1,850No Fee
1 |
1
Do No-Fee Apartments Save Money?
Surface level, it seems fee units would be more expensive to rent than no-fee apartments. But there is some debate as to whether no-fee rentals save renters money — particularly luxury rentals. Many buildings like these are no-fee but cost much more per month because of desirable amenities such as doormen, gym, and shared outdoor space.