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

Manhattan Valley

54 West 106th Street

$2,287 No Fee

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1

Turtle Bay

875 First Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

2375 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

415 East 82nd Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

610 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$2,228 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

610 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

328 East 93rd Street

$2,475 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

301 West 121st Street

$2,899 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

156 East 102nd Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

4469 Broadway

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

4469 Broadway

$2,712 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

515 East 78th Street

$2,333 No Fee

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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

Flatbush

2911 Albemarle Road

$2,187 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

1359 Nostrand Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

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1

East Flatbush

1630 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,635 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

157 Erasmus Street

$2,445 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

1159 Saint John’s Place

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

772 Saint John’s Place

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Windsor Terrace

829 Greenwood Avenue

$2,769 No Fee

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1

Brighton Beach

524 Ocean View Avenue

$2,434 No Fee

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1

Kensington

7 Chester Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

804A Greene Avenue

$2,875 No Fee

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2

Bedford-Stuyvesant

554 Gates Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Cobble Hill

194 Court Street

$2,655 No Fee

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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

Jamaica

143-27 95th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Maspeth

60-27 54th Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

99-34 67 Road

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Richmond Hill

87-21 118th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Sunnyside

43-01 46th Street

$2,075 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

59-15 Woodbine Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1712 Madison Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

75-05 113rd Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

70-01 113rd Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,083 No Fee

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1

Jamaica

147-35 95th Avenue

$2,865 No Fee

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1

Astoria

30-14 33rd Street

$1,950 No Fee

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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

722 Washington Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

701 Adams Street

$2,275 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

116 Clinton Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

643 Garden Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

104 5th Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

72 Hudson Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

513 Willow Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

210 9th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

409 1st Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

407 4th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

335 Garden Street

$2,763 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1 Newark Street

$2,350 No Fee

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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

West Side

99 Mallory Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

224 Garfield Avenue

$2,825 No Fee

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2

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,125 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,175 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

McGinley Square

55 Jordan Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

225 Saint Pauls Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

121 Neptune Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

109 5 Highland Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

114 Duncan Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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0

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!