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

Hudson Heights

436 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

424 West 53rd Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

East Village

231 East 4th Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

624 E 11th Street

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

Manhattan Valley

70 West 109th Street

$2,970 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

55 West 92nd Street

$2,895 No Fee

Studio |

1

South Harlem

62 West 125th Street

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

NoMad

13 West 29th Street

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

166 West 83rd Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

690 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,895 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

17 West 125th Street

$2,677 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

2415 Second Avenue

$1,800 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

Flatbush

2734 Snyder Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Sheepshead Bay

3051 Ocean Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flatbush

1503 Nostrand Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Sunset Park

450 51st Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

594 Saint Mark’s Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

2708 Snyder Avenue

$2,908 No Fee

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1

Williamsburg

200 Withers Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Weeksville

1311 Lincoln Place

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

7316 Third Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

45 Lenox Road

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

664 New York Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

474 Ovington Avenue

$2,695 No Fee

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2

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

Jackson Heights

25-50 83rd Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

45-02 Ditmars Boulevard

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1926 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,498 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Elmhurst

52-07 90th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Briarwood

143-20 Hoover Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1741 Norman Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Woodside

43-12 56th Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

North Corona

32-60 106th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Astoria

11-24 31 Drive

$2,542 No Fee

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1

Woodside

46-09 69th Street

$2,162 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

123 Park Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

727 Washington Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

521 Jefferson Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

229 Willow Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

100 Washington Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

324 Monroe Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

906 Willow Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

320 Grand Street

$2,500 No Fee

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2

Hoboken

1034 Washington Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

727 Washington Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

330 Jackson Street

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

734 Adams 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

254 Van Nostrand Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

297 Barrow Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

2600 Kennedy Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

199 Martin Luther King Jr Drive

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

143 Bergen Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

209 5th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

94 Stegman Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

211 Virginia Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Newport

30 Newport Parkway

$2,920 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

164 Pearsall Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

204 Bartholdi Avenue

$2,400 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!