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

555 Edgecombe Avenue

$2,621 base rent

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Washington Heights

541 West 158th Street

$2,833 base rent

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Washington Heights

537 West 158th Street

$2,644 base rent

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East Village

173 Avenue C

$2,875 base rent

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Central Harlem

304 West 151st Street

$2,895 base rent

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Central Harlem

320 West 135th Street

$2,750 base rent

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Central Harlem

252 West 132nd Street

$2,909 base rent

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Central Harlem

1856 Park Avenue

$2,889 base rent

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South Harlem

187 Lenox Avenue

$2,850 base rent

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East Harlem

232 East 124th Street

$2,850 base rent

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Lincoln Square

103 West 70th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Upper West Side

241 West 101st Street

$2,750 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

Bushwick

15 Lawton Street

$2,675 base rent

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Downtown Brooklyn

81 Willoughby Street

$2,850 base rent

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Sunset Park

880 47th Street

$2,300 base rent

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Borough Park

3611 15th Avenue

$2,397 base rent

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East Williamsburg

232 Meserole Street

$2,999 base rent

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Prospect Lefferts Gardens

105 Lincoln Road

$1,900 base rent

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Brownsville

425 East 96th Street

$2,200 base rent

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Flatbush

1644 New York Avenue

$2,900 base rent

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Flatbush

1782 Nostrand Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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Midwood

2705 Kings Highway

$2,100 base rent

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Midwood

1532 Ocean Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Greenwood

273 20th Street

$2,750 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

Ditmars-Steinway

42-12 21st Avenue

$2,600 base rent

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Far Rockaway

29-32 Beach Channel Drive

$2,163 base rent

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Elmhurst

40-25 Hampton Street

$2,125 base rent

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Astoria

31-28 42nd Street

$2,700 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-16 35th Street

$2,995 base rent

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Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,600 base rent

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Flushing

143-51 Roosevelt Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

21-23 27th Street

$2,750 base rent

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Astoria

25-26 33rd Street

$2,250 base rent

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Astoria

25-33 23rd Street

$2,200 base rent

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Jackson Heights

23-53 White Oak Court

$2,400 base rent

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Astoria

49-10 30th Avenue

$2,500 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

106 11th Street

$2,600 base rent

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Hoboken

310 Monroe Street

$2,591 base rent

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Hoboken

804 Bloomfield Street

$2,880 base rent

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Hoboken

106 11th Street

$2,650 base rent

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Hoboken

710 Jefferson Street

$2,350 base rent

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Hoboken

215 Adams Street

$2,400 base rent

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Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 base rent

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Hoboken

235 Monroe Street

$2,650 base rent

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Hoboken

324 Monroe Street

$2,550 base rent

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Hoboken

1109 Washington Street

$2,100 base rent

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Hoboken

600 Washington Street

$2,700 base rent

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Hoboken

804 Bloomfield Street

$2,880 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

49 Fisk Street

$2,485 base rent

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Historic Downtown

374 2nd Street

$2,350 base rent

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Jersey City

49 Fisk Street

$2,490 base rent

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Bergen/Lafayette

660 Grand Street

$2,350 base rent

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Bergen/Lafayette

300 Communipaw Avenue

$2,350 base rent

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Journal Square

821 Bergen Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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McGinley Square

544-546 Bergen Avenue

$2,000 base rent

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Jersey City

168 Martin Luther King Drive

$2,350 base rent

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Jersey City

318 Fairmount Avenue

$1,800 base rent

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Jersey City

361 Danforth Avenue

$1,850 base rent

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The Heights

673 Summit Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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Journal Square

615 Pavonia

$2,740 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!