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

Lenox Hill

240 East 75th Street

$2,613 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

336 East 90th Street

$2,269 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

502 East 88th Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

1884 Park Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

2

Murray Hill

309 East 37th Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lincoln Square

42 West 65th Street

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

461 West 44th Street

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

235 East 12th Street

$2,906 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

361 West 51st Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1.5

Central Harlem

312 West 142nd Street

$2,399 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

312 West 142nd Street

$2,599 No Fee

2 |

1

Hamilton Heights

551 West 149th Street

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

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

2175 Bergen Street

$2,923 No Fee

2 |

2

Midwood

1122 Chestnut Avenue

$2,465 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

1154 Gates Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

944 Marcy Avenue

$2,053 No Fee

1 |

1

Wingate

486 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2229 East 7th Street

$2,649 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

1557 Fulton Street

$2,841 No Fee

2 |

1

Midwood

1652 East 14th Street

$2,725 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

447 Dekalb Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

3 |

1

Homecrest

1705 East 17th Street

$2,749 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmas Park

1268 Flatbush Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

876 Greene Avenue

$2,500 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

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,599 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

28-20 Astoria Boulevard

$2,999 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

39-09 47th Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-62 31st Street

$2,725 No Fee

1 |

1

Flushing

45-25 Parsons Boulevard

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Corona

97-30 57th Avenue

$2,620 No Fee

1 |

1

Corona

98-38 57th Avenue

$2,890 No Fee

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-25 24th Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Sunnyside

51-25 Queens Boulevard

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1

East Flushing

196-08 42 Road

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Forest Hills

104-12 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,600 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

918 Washington Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

528 Washington Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

834 Hudson Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

526 Adams Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

605 1st Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

253 3rd Street

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hoboken

403 1st Street

$2,550 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

807 Clinton Street

$2,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

153 1st Street

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Hoboken

222 Clinton 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

Jersey City

137 Bidwell Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

3 |

1

Jersey City

137 Bidwell Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

3 |

1

Historic Downtown

180 10th Street

$2,970 No Fee

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

667-665 Grand Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

107 Grant Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

3 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

545 Martin Luther King Jr Drive

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

545 Martin Luther King Jr Drive

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

West Side

565 Bergen Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

The Heights

456 Baldwin Avenue

$1,975 No Fee

2 |

1

Jersey City

311 Sip Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Bergen/Lafayette

672 Grand Street

$2,194 No Fee

2 |

1

The Heights

172 New York Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

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!