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

2847 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,760 No Fee

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1

Fort George

618 West 182nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

326 East 85th Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Fort George

64 Wadsworth Terrace

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

438 East 75th Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

725 Ninth Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hudson Yards

449 West 37th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

488 East 74th Street

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

Chinatown

54 Elizabeth Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

688 Ninth Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hudson Yards

508 Ninth Avenue

$2,625 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

515 West 46th Street

$2,875 No Fee

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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

Stuyvesant Heights

213 Stuyvesant Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

548 Saint Mark’s Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Fort Hamilton

120 96th Street

$1,950 No Fee

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1

Park Slope

121 Eighth Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Williamsburg

45 Cook Street

$2,699 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

326 78th Street

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Mapleton

2337 64th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

535 Bay Ridge Parkway

$2,799 No Fee

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1

East New York

622 Glenmore Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

763 Park Place

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

460 Throop Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Park Slope

402 Seventh Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

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

31-56 34th Street

$2,190 No Fee

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1

Maspeth

58-34 Fresh Pond Road

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Elmhurst

74-28 Woodside Avenue

$1,899 No Fee

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1

Astoria

27-10 Astoria Boulevard

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-33 42nd Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

110-45 Queens Boulevard

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Corona

56-14 Van Cleef Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1.5

Sunnyside

41-12 41st Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Woodside

63-11 Queens Boulevard

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Astoria

31-49 33rd Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

61-61 Woodhaven Boulevard

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

61-61 Woodhaven Boulevard

$1,950 No Fee

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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

358 6th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

160 8th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

107 Harrison Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

324 Washington Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

101 Willow Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

318 Jefferson Street

$2,250 No Fee

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0

Hoboken

116 Clinton Street

$2,899 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

209 Clinton Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

715 Washington Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

108 14th Street

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

80 Jackson Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,750 No Fee

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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

239 Arlington Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

347 York Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

828 Ocean Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

The Heights

442 Baldwin Avenue

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

39 Van Wagenen Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

135 Montgomery Street

$2,990 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

45 Grant Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

84 Romaine Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

122 Wade Street

$1,999 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

747 Grand Street

$2,650 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

121 Wade Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

121 Wade Street

$1,995 No Fee

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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!