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

Washington Heights

539 West 156th Street

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Turtle Bay

235 East 46th Street

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

102 West 138th Street

$2,826 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

302 West 87th Street

$2,875 No Fee

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1

East Village

160 First Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

515 East 87th Street

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

620 West 141st Street

$2,185 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

1470 First Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

322 Convent Avenue

$2,749 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

690 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Manhattan Valley

54 West 106th Street

$2,745 No Fee

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1

Midtown

150 West 51st Street

$2,850 No Fee

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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

Bedford-Stuyvesant

205 Spencer Street

$2,750 No Fee

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Weeksville

1325 Eastern Parkway

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1468 Bushwick Avenue

$2,661 No Fee

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1

Greenpoint

87 Commercial Street

$2,722 No Fee

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1

Brownsville

446 East 98th Street

$1,845 No Fee

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1

Ditmas Park

646 Argyle Road

$2,285 No Fee

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Stuyvesant Heights

843 Lexington Avenue

$2,575 No Fee

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1

Midwood

920 East 17th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

345 Bay Ridge Parkway

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Prospect Heights

834 Pacific Street

$2,842 No Fee

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1

Kensington

703 Ditmas Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

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1

East Williamsburg

949 Grand Street

$2,600 No Fee

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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

Oakland Gardens

221-08 64th Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

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Flushing

38-15 Bowne Street

$2,100 No Fee

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Murray Hill (Queens)

144-02 Barclay Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Jackson Heights

91-09 Roosevelt Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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Astoria

25-25 Newtown Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Woodside

40-52 70th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Hammels

214 Beach 92nd Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Long Island City

37-14 36th Street

$2,994 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

178-02 Hillside Avenue

$2,726 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill (Queens)

34-15 Parsons Boulevard

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill (Queens)

34-15 Parsons Boulevard

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-12 36th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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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

521 Madison Street

$2,000 No Fee

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Hoboken

1008 Washington Street

$2,250 No Fee

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Hoboken

718 Hudson Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1 Newark Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

815 Park Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

530 Jefferson Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

933 Park Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

324 Monroe Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

727 Washington Street

$2,300 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

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1

Hoboken

330 Jackson Street

$1,900 No Fee

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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

McGinley Square

55 Orchard Street

$2,300 No Fee

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McGinley Square

55 Orchard Street

$2,250 No Fee

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McGinley Square

55 Orchard Street

$2,225 No Fee

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McGinley Square

55 Orchard Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Orchard Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

215 Lincoln Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

545 Martin Luther King Jr Drive

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

197 Pine Street

$2,513 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

122 Mallory Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

The Heights

54 Graham Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

The Heights

54 Graham Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

The Heights

54 Graham Street

$2,150 No Fee

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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!