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

South Harlem

91 West 119th Street

$2,900 base rent

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Upper West Side

208 West 82nd Street

$2,950 base rent

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Little Italy

169 Hester Street

$2,850 base rent

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Central Harlem

41 Bradhurst Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Inwood

610 Academy Street

$2,500 base rent

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Yorkville

509 East 81st Street

$2,850 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

555 West 151st Street

$2,545 base rent

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Carnegie Hill

161 East 89th Street

$2,864 base rent

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Upper West Side

936 West End Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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Kips Bay

167 East 33rd Street

$2,750 base rent

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Kips Bay

167 East 33rd Street

$2,750 base rent

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Central Harlem

72 West 126th Street

$2,395 base rent

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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

Ditmas Park

400 East 17th Street

$2,700 base rent

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Mapleton

1938 62nd Street

$2,700 base rent

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Ocean Hill

82 Somers Street

$2,850 base rent

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Flatbush

1286 New York Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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Flatbush

1203 Rogers Avenue

$2,195 base rent

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Midwood

1620 Ocean Avenue

$1,800 base rent

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East Flatbush

714 Clarkson Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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Bensonhurst

161 Avenue P

$2,150 base rent

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Canarsie

1788 Linden Boulevard

$2,995 base rent

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Kensington

29 Tehama Street

$2,800 base rent

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Bushwick

294 Harman Street

$2,999 base rent

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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

Sunnyside

39-38 47th Avenue

$2,649 base rent

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Sunnyside

45-11 43rd Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Briarwood

84-18 143rd Street

$2,150 base rent

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North Corona

104-22 Northern Boulevard

$2,700 base rent

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Briarwood

84-18 143rd Street

$2,595 base rent

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Forest Hills

100-25 Queens Boulevard

$2,250 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-14 Crescent Street

$2,425 base rent

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Bellerose

88-05 Pontiac Street

$2,300 base rent

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Malba

13-12 141st Street

$2,500 base rent

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Hammels

92-11 De Sota Road

$2,900 base rent

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Rego Park

98-01 67th Avenue

$2,875 base rent

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Astoria

31-42 31st Street

$2,600 base rent

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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

133 Madison Street

$2,700 base rent

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Hoboken

308 Madison Street

$2,500 base rent

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Hoboken

356 1st Street

$2,400 base rent

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Hoboken

330 Monroe Street

$2,900 base rent

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Hoboken

63 Jefferson Street

$2,200 base rent

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Hoboken

407 1st Street

$2,875 base rent

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Hoboken

323 Monroe Street

$2,500 base rent

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Hoboken

710 Jefferson Street

$2,350 base rent

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Hoboken

354 1st Street

$2,800 base rent

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Hoboken

203 Washington Street

$2,900 base rent

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Hoboken

514 Observer Highway

$2,950 base rent

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Hoboken

107 4th Street

$2,400 base rent

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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

311-315 West Side Avenue

$2,030 base rent

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The Heights

54 Graham Street

$2,500 base rent

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The Heights

3712 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$2,500 base rent

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Jersey City

2 Apollo Street

$2,500 base rent

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Historic Downtown

364 7th Street

$2,300 base rent

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The Heights

205 Hutton Street

$2,575 base rent

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Journal Square

90 Jordan Avenue

$1,950 base rent

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Jersey City

158 Bergen Avenue

$1,895 base rent

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Paulus Hook

100 Montgomery Street

$2,830 base rent

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Jersey City

110 Linden Avenue

$2,000 base rent

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The Heights

465 Palisade Avenue

$2,375 base rent

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Bergen/Lafayette

66 Monitor Street

$2,697 base rent

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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!