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

Yorkville

418 East 89th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

119 West 111th Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

461 West 44th Street

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hudson Heights

110 Bennett Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

188 Orchard Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

West Harlem

102 Convent Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

140 East 56th Street

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Murray Hill

5 Tudor City Place

$2,675 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

231 East 96th Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

345 East 85th Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

307 East 81st Street

$2,550 No Fee

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

320 West 108th Street

$2,550 No Fee

Studio |

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

Fort Hamilton

367 95th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Sunset Park

770 60th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

75 Ralph Avenue

$2,907 No Fee

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1

Gowanus

216 7th Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Borough Park

968 60th Street

$2,838 No Fee

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1

Borough Park

968 60th Street

$2,697 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

817 Saint Johns Place

$2,199 No Fee

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1

Fort Hamilton

526 86th Street

$1,900 No Fee

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1

Fort Hamilton

337 90th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Ocean Hill

723 Macdonough Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

1457 Flatbush Avenue

$2,740 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

1457 Flatbush Avenue

$2,740 No Fee

2 |

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

Astoria

14-56 31 Drive

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Bayside

42-06 212nd Street

$1,895 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

23-61 31st Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Elmhurst

95-02 43rd Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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2

Ditmars-Steinway

20-32 24th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1645 Putnam Avenue

$2,999 No Fee

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2

Astoria

25-77 36th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Astoria

26-24 Fourth Street

$2,999 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-06 30 Drive

$1,895 No Fee

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1

Ridgewood

1663 Decatur Street

$2,399 No Fee

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1

Astoria

10 Halletts Point

$2,973 No Fee

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1

Astoria

31-32 37th Street

$2,200 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

157 14th Street

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

802 Park Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1025 Willow Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

71 Jackson Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

219 Washington Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

108 Willow Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

606 Jefferson Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

313 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

935 Park Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

209 2nd Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

512 1st 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

2321 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

282 5th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

203 Grant Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

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2

Bergen/Lafayette

207 Arlington Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

5 Lienau Place

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

328 Pacific Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

100 Mcadoo Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

28 Van Cleef Street

$2,750 No Fee

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2

The Heights

42 Prospect Street

$2,986 No Fee

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2

Bergen/Lafayette

153 Academy Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

45 Ravine Avenue

$1,955 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

582 Garfield Avenue

$1,999 No Fee

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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!