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

Hamilton Heights

145 Edgecombe Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Chinatown

24 East Broadway

$2,002 No Fee

1 |

1

Murray Hill

140 East 40th Street

$2,850 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

40 West 135th Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

346 East 76th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hudson Heights

720 West 181st Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

577 West 161st Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Turtle Bay

214 East 51st Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kips Bay

229 East 29th Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

309 East 9th Street

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

123 Wadsworth Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

3 |

1

Upper West Side

41 West 86th Street

$2,683 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

Crown Heights

2288 Atlantic Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Park South

201 East 18th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

277 Hart Street

$2,950 No Fee

2 |

1

Bay Ridge

552 80th Street

$2,200 No Fee

2 |

1

East Flatbush

351 East 48th Street

$2,950 No Fee

3 |

4

Bushwick

123 Melrose Street

$2,723 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bath Beach

8800 20th Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Williamsburg

99 Varet Street

$2,999 No Fee

Studio |

1

Midwood

1096 East 16th Street

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1

Crown Heights

1046 Bergen Street

$2,999 No Fee

2 |

1

Greenwood

647 Fourth Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Williamsburg

443 Graham Avenue

$2,786 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

30-79 41st Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

26-20 Hoyt Avenue South

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1

Maspeth

60-15 Fresh Pond Road

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

117-14 Union Tnpk

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Glendale

73-22 69 Place

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Bayside

36-39 213th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-28 77th Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Briarwood

139-05 85 Drive

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-48 Steinway Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

12-28 31 Drive

$1,975 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

27-21 23rd Street

$2,600 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

601 Monroe Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

1015 Washington Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

511 Willow Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

712 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

609 Jefferson Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

128 Garden Street

$2,550 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

829 Clinton Street

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

612 2nd Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

410 Washington Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

517 Willow Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

517 Willow Avenue

$2,750 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

318 5th Street

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Journal Square

6 Tonnelle Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

2 |

1

West Side

25-27 Kensington Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

224 Freeman Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

3 |

2

Bergen/Lafayette

324 Randolph Avenue

$1,890 No Fee

2 |

1

The Heights

159 Hutton Street

$2,200 No Fee

2 |

1

Journal Square

3143-49 Kennedy Boulevard

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

West Side

2465-67 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

112 Neptune Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

3 |

1

Jersey City

9 Garrison Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

169 Wegman Parkway

$2,195 No Fee

3 |

1

The Heights

3234 Kennedy Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

3 |

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!