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

300 West 136th Street

$2,625 base rent

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1

Yorkville

521 East 81st Street

$2,800 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

500 West 170th Street

$2,400 base rent

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1

East Harlem

446 East 118th Street

$2,995 base rent

1 |

1

South Harlem

255 West 121st Street

$2,700 base rent

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1

Sutton Place

1069 First Avenue

$2,595 base rent

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1

Carnegie Hill

188 East 93rd Street

$2,470 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

148 West 142nd Street

$2,795 base rent

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1

Two Bridges

17 Pike Street

$2,700 base rent

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1

Lenox Hill

409 East 74th Street

$2,650 base rent

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1

Lenox Hill

1420 York Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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1

Kips Bay

73 Lexington Avenue

$2,850 base rent

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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

838 Flatbush Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

311 Van Buren Street

$2,987 base rent

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1

Flatbush

186 Lenox Road

$2,950 base rent

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1

Weeksville

966 Montgomery Street

$2,600 base rent

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

366 Stockton Street

$2,895 base rent

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1

Sunset Park

5110 Fifth Avenue

$2,695 base rent

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

86 Lewis Avenue

$2,850 base rent

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1

Weeksville

1620 Prospect Place

$2,971 base rent

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1

Fort Greene

58 Vanderbilt Avenue

$2,999 base rent

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

338 Clifton Place

$2,999 base rent

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1

East Flatbush

3900 Kings Highway

$1,900 base rent

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1

East New York

20 Doscher Street

$2,500 base rent

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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

Oakland Gardens

67-17 Cloverdale Boulevard

$2,750 base rent

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

42-10 23rd Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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1

Flushing

43-23 Colden Street

$2,746 base rent

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1

Flushing

43-23 Colden Street

$2,253 base rent

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1

Astoria

28-08 35th Street

$2,780 base rent

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1

Maspeth

60-54 54th Street

$2,850 base rent

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1

Sunnyside

47-07 41st Street

$2,450 base rent

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1

Glendale

78-30 62nd Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Sunnyside

47-07 41st Street

$2,800 base rent

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1

Flushing

75-04 150th Street

$1,938 base rent

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1

Forest Hills

71-40 112nd Street

$1,995 base rent

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1

Rego Park

97-30 64th Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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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

132 Jefferson Street

$2,800 base rent

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Hoboken

521 Madison Street

$1,930 base rent

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0

Hoboken

1121 Washington Street

$2,550 base rent

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1

Hoboken

118 Adams Street

$2,675 base rent

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1

Hoboken

205 3rd Street

$2,400 base rent

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1

Hoboken

614 2nd Street

$2,275 base rent

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1

Hoboken

308 Madison Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Hoboken

323 Grand Street

$2,595 base rent

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1

Hoboken

320 Jefferson Street

$1,900 base rent

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1

Hoboken

913 Garden Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Hoboken

800 Park Avenue

$2,950 base rent

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1

Hoboken

118 Adams Street

$2,675 base rent

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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

Jersey City

333 Newark Avenue

$2,445 base rent

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1

Jersey City

443 Bergen Avenue Bergen Avenue

$2,746 base rent

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2

Jersey City

135 Montgomery Street

$2,990 base rent

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West Side

245 Duncan Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

53 Claremont Avenue

$2,000 base rent

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1

Historic Downtown

186 Wayne Street

$2,800 base rent

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1

Jersey City

11 Holmes Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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1

The Heights

392 Palisade Avenue

$2,150 base rent

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

294 Randolph Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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2

Jersey City

37 Harmon Street

$2,450 base rent

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1

West Side

429 Fairmount Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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1

Jersey City

805 Secaucus Road

$2,700 base rent

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2

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!