No Fee Rental - an urban legend?

why not just go directly to the management company? the only reason why one would use a broker for a rental is that they dont have enough time for looking around.

#2, my question was out of curiosity. I am approaching management companies, but these no fee guys have many interesting listings on craigslist, am curious whether it is even worth it. anyone has any experiences?

I have never paid a fee for an apartment. I have only rented in buildings that offered units throught their management companies. It can take a big of legworks (asking doormen, looking for signage on buildings) but it is well worth it.

#4 is correct. NEVER PAY A FEE FOR A RENTAL.

I own an apartment, one bedroom in Tribeca that I will advertising for rent in June and I'm not going to be asking for a Fee since I'm the owner, The only fee that one has to pay is the condo application fee which I think is around 400 bucks.

I too own a studio in the upper eastside that I will be renting for 2400. per month no fee.

no fee management properties are essentially "no-fee." you must pay the broker who showed you the apartment located at a no-fee complex. however, certain rental properties will either allow brokers to show you an apartment at their complex and they (the broker) get a 1-month rent incentive/fee directly from the rental property and you pay no fee to the broker. or, you pay the broker 15% fee (1.8x the rent) and the rental property gives you the 1st month free rent. this was definitely something that was highly available right after 9/11 since no one was eagered to rent nor move to nyc... so there was an abundance of rental properties. however, the market right now is still tight so you will hardly see any rental properties offering such incentives. you must go directly to the no fee management to not incur a broker's fee.

there are still a few (< 1%) of owners paying brokers their fees and you don't have to pay a fee. these properties are usually in an area that no one wants to live in or the property is run down.

streeteasy has an option where you can look for no-fee rentrals - the site then takes you straight to the management company website. I know of at least 3 sucjh companies. The only fees are application and credit check fees, which are generally minimal. Good luck!