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

Inwood

5008 Broadway

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Inwood

5008 Broadway

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Hudson Heights

4441 Broadway

$2,300 No Fee

3 |

1

Yorkville

415 East 81st Street

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

113 West 111st Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort George

608 West 184th Street

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

1

South Harlem

201 West 115th Street

$2,642 No Fee

2 |

1

Central Harlem

17 West 125th Street

$2,395 No Fee

1 |

1

Kips Bay

220 East 27th Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

332 East 93rd Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

427 East 83rd Street

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

309 East 61st Street

$2,895 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

Clinton Hill

106 Washington Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Farragut

1351 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Kensington

39 Dahill Road

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Heights

35 Eastern Parkway

$2,475 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

1629 Pacific Street

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1

Park Slope

652 Warren Street

$2,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmas Park

341 East 19th Street

$2,199 No Fee

2 |

1

Bushwick

40 Furman Avenue

$2,990 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Canarsie

1249 Remsen Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

2527 Church Avenue

$2,699 No Fee

1 |

1

Brownsville

596 Powell Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

433 Rogers Avenue

$2,333 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.

Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Woodside

54-06 Skillman Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Sunnyside

43-15 46th Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Astoria

28-09 33rd Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

109-23 71 Road

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-60 33rd Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

32-77 46th Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

31-16 Steinway Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Astoria

30-16 32nd Street

$2,699 No Fee

2 |

1

Flushing

42-15 College Point Boulevard

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Elmhurst

83-17 Broadway

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,571 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,517 No Fee

Studio |

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

719 Adams Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

156 5th Street

$2,250 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

924 Park Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

408 Adams Street

$2,744 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

610 Park Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

86 Monroe Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

107 Garden Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

170 6th Street

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

935 Park Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

410 Washington Street

$2,675 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

625 Willow Avenue

$2,975 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

409 Adams Street

$2,900 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

Bergen/Lafayette

85 Union Street

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Jersey City

23 Westervelt Place

$2,100 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

23 Westervelt Place

$2,350 No Fee

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1

The Heights

1 Congress Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

McGinley Square

75 Jordan Avenue

$2,155 No Fee

Studio |

1

Historic Downtown

516 Jersey Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

McGinley Square

75 Jordan Avenue

$2,414 No Fee

1 |

1

The Heights

112 Irving Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

176 Summit Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

63 Cottage Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Jersey City

18 Buttonwood Street

$2,800 No Fee

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2

Bergen/Lafayette

829 Garfield Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

2

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!