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

Central Harlem

135 West 126th Street

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

Washington Heights

504 West 159th Street

$2,756 base rent

3 |

1

Yorkville

322 East 89th Street

$2,775 base rent

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

1608 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,900 base rent

2 |

1

Lenox Hill

1125 Lexington Avenue

$2,600 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

529 West 158th Street

$2,450 base rent

2 |

1

Yorkville

424 East 85th Street

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

452 West 145th Street

$1,935 base rent

Studio |

1

Greenwich Village

260 Sixth Avenue

$2,667 base rent

Studio |

1

East Village

420 East 10th Street

$2,750 base rent

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

90 Rivington Street

$2,395 base rent

Studio |

1

Yorkville

450-452 East 81st Street

$2,950 base rent

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

Bedford-Stuyvesant

637 Willoughby Avenue

$2,800 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1655 Flatbush Avenue

$2,399 base rent

1 |

1

Weeksville

149 Buffalo Avenue

$2,950 base rent

1 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

300 Lincoln Road

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Midwood

1447 East 2nd Street

$2,400 base rent

2 |

1

Williamsburg

109 South 3rd Street

$2,844 base rent

Studio |

1

Bushwick

384 Harman Street

$2,550 base rent

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

814 Marcy Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Bushwick

1473 Bushwick Avenue

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Kensington

567 Ocean Parkway

$2,350 base rent

Studio |

1

Weeksville

1621 Park Place

$2,500 base rent

2 |

1

Kensington

707 Beverly Road

$2,300 base rent

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

Far Rockaway

11-38 Mc Bride Street

$2,299 base rent

3 |

1

Kew Gardens

118-40 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,495 base rent

1 |

1

North Corona

32-21 97th Street

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

Briarwood

135-15 Coolidge Avenue

$1,995 base rent

1 |

1

Rockaway All

127 Beach 119th Street

$2,099 base rent

1 |

1

Woodhaven

89-43 96th Street

$1,900 base rent

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

118-60 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,499 base rent

1 |

1

Ridgewood

1815 Putnam Avenue

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Rego Park

66-01 Burns Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Flushing

139-81 35th Avenue

$2,349 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,650 base rent

1 |

1

Rockaway All

169A Beach 96th Street

$2,950 base rent

3 |

2.5

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

554 Observer Highway

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

410 Washington Street

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

606 Jefferson Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

116 Clinton Street

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

116 Clinton Street

$2,999 base rent

2 |

1

Hoboken

1033 Washington Street

$2,400 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

405 4th Street

$2,975 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

226 Jefferson Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

521 Willow Avenue

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

130 Madison Street

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

Hoboken

1124 Washington Street

$2,950 base rent

1 |

1

Hoboken

1006 Washington Street

$2,850 base rent

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

2 Union Street

$2,585 base rent

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

201 Cornelison Avenue

$2,050 base rent

1 |

1

Jersey City

100 Shearwater Ct East

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

West Side

185 Mallory Avenue

$2,800 base rent

2 |

2

West Side

185 Mallory Avenue

$2,800 base rent

2 |

2

Jersey City

119 Coles Street

$2,000 base rent

1 |

1

West Side

306 Bergen Avenue

$2,450 base rent

2 |

1

West Side

306 Bergen Avenue

$2,475 base rent

2 |

1

Journal Square

55 Skillman Avenue

$2,800 base rent

2 |

2

Jersey City

101 Sussex Street

$2,395 base rent

1 |

1

Jersey City

81 Bostwick Avenue

$1,995 base rent

2 |

1

Paulus Hook

100 Montgomery Street

$2,775 base rent

Studio |

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!