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

313 East 90th Street

$2,725 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

783 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,950 No Fee

Studio |

1

Greenwich Village

171 Thompson Street

$2,800 No Fee

Studio |

1

West Chelsea

299 Tenth Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

188 East 3rd Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

127 West 81st Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

214 East 11th Street

$2,975 No Fee

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

625 West End Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

640 West 171st Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

East Village

98 Saint Mark’s Place

$2,500 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

68 East 120th Street

$2,900 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

Crown Heights

1054 Bergen Street

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

2718 Church Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

57 Herkimer Street

$1,873 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

340 Evergreen Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

1797 Prospect Place

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Flatbush

2734 Snyder Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

682 Hancock Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

1079 Lafayette Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

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1.5

Flatbush

2137 Cortelyou Road

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

1024 New York Avenue

$2,595 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

153 Erasmus Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Williamsburg

77 Division Avenue

$2,999 No Fee

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

Flushing

35-32 Leavitt Street

$2,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica Estates

183-11 Hillside Avenue

$2,189 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

1659 Summerfield Avenue

$2,945 No Fee

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2

Astoria

26-41 3rd Street

$2,875 No Fee

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1

Woodside

42-29 66th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Oakland Gardens

61-57 224th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Astoria

43-10 25th Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-54 23rd Street

$2,975 No Fee

2 |

1

Forest Hills

102-18 64th Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Forest Hills

97-20 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,525 No Fee

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1

Astoria

31-43 Vernon Boulevard

$2,404 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

34-56 33rd Street

$2,375 No Fee

1 |

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

163 3rd Street

$2,653 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

126 Garden Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

328 Monroe Street

$2,320 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1115 Willow Avenue

$2,775 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

102 Washington Street

$2,680 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

1200 Washington Street

$2,689 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

615 Park Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

235 Monroe Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

118 Adams Street

$2,575 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

306 Madison Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

912 Washington Street

$2,850 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

68 Monroe Street

$2,900 No Fee

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

West Side

65 Belmont Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

377-379 Halladay Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

333 Newark Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

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1

The Heights

15 Troy Street

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

178 Wegman Parkway

$2,600 No Fee

3 |

1

Paulus Hook

95 Montgomery Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Journal Square

226 Saint Pauls Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

548 Bramhall Avenue

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

102 Old Bergen Road

$2,000 No Fee

2 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

408 Whiton Street

$2,950 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

407 West Side Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

1760 John F Kennedy Boulevard

$1,850 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!