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

Central Harlem

44 East 132nd Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Lower East Side

67 Eldridge Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

0.5

Central Harlem

44 East 132nd Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

534 West 50th Street

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

1

Upper West Side

251 West 92nd Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

432 East 89th Street

$2,580 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

414 East 120th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

688 Ninth Avenue

$2,695 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

1570 First Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

624 E 11th Street

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

244 E. Houston Street

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

South Harlem

149 West 119th

$2,400 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

1414 East 12th Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

1150 De Kalb Avenue

$2,095 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Williamsburg

393 Bushwick Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

1558 Nostrand Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Ocean Hill

542 Chauncey Street

$2,799 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

2316 Clarendon Road

$2,401 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ocean Hill

214 Sumpter Street

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

2

Park Slope

372 Fifth Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

1193 Nostrand Avenue

$2,699 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Gravesend

2444 East 1st Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Wingate

741 Fenimore Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

1160 Rogers Avenue

$2,199 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.

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Astoria

32-53 46th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Auburndale

171-06 28th Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kew Gardens

83-35 Lefferts Boulevard

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

16-18 Jefferson Avenue

$2,590 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

33-04 24th Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

46-10 28th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

1

Glen Oaks

245-20 Grand Central Parkway

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

Elmhurst

41-42 73rd Street

$2,799 No Fee

2 |

1

Elmhurst

42-23 79th Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

North Corona

104-28 37 Drive

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

118-18 Union Turnpike

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

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

802 Park Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

420 Madison Street

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

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

$2,690 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

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

Historic Downtown

167 Christopher Columbus Drive

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

86 Van Nostrand Avenue

$2,375 No Fee

3 |

2

Jersey City

19 Sherman Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

2

Jersey City

394 Ocean Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

3 |

1.5

Jersey City

43 Sheffield Street

$2,150 No Fee

3 |

1

West Side

215 Mallory Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

3 |

1

West Side

170 Virginia Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

337-39 Randolph Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

3 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

47 Arlington Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

18 Grieco Drive

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

2

Jersey City

45 Broadman Parkway

$2,200 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

297 Barrow Street

$2,850 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!