Everything About No Fee Apartments in New York for 2024

Finding an apartment with no brokers’ fee in New York City? It’s absolutely possible.

Finding an apartment in New York City can be a daunting task, especially with the added stress of high broker fees. But what if there was a way to avoid those fees and find your dream apartment without breaking the bank? That’s where no-fee apartments come in.

In recent years, the availability of no-fee apartments in NYC has been on the rise, offering hope to renters on a budget. In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about no-fee apartments in New York for 2024 what ‘Broker’s Fee’ is, and where you can find yourself an apartment in New York that doesn’t require one.

What’s a Broker’s Fee?

In general, a broker’s fee is the fee you pay someone to help you find a house in one area. Think of the broker as a middleman between your landlord, the house that you’re renting, and you. Brokers are consulted because they know the areas they represent and can help match both parties at the best price.

However, brokers shouldn’t be confused with real estate agents, as they work in partnership with real estate agencies as well.

There was an attempt to ban broker’s fees in 2020, but the decision was reversed a mere few weeks later. Nowadays, broker’s fees cost between 10% to 15% of the annual lease amount according to Bloomberg. And since the rent in NYC is so expensive, a few hundred dollars could easily get added to an already high rent price.

Do You Really Need a Broker?

Brokers are still hired for their service because they also help smoothen the process of renting an apartment in New York City.

While tons of websites can help you find a no-fee apartment in New York, you still need to be mindful of the entire process. This is to ensure that you do not miss out on any of the important paperwork that is required for an individual to rent an apartment in New York. When we say mindful, we mean:

Have your W2s and tax returns handy.
Investigate your potential landlord and apartment building thoroughly.
Never hand over cash before you’ve met the landlord, visited the apartment in person, and done enough research to feel comfortable!

Where to Find No-Fee Apartments in New York: 5 Websites!

With the high prices in NYC, there are actually many websites that include listings with no-fee apartments in the area. Here are five of the best websites to find no-fee apartments in New York City.

1. Roomi

Source: Roomi

Roomi offers no-fee apartments with special attention to data privacy and its user’s safety. The app ensures its users’ safety by using Global ID, a system to verify contact information and maintain user privacy at the same time.

All Roomi users also undergo a thorough background check before being allowed to use the platform, plus it requires users to upload a profile picture to ensure that the person behind the profile is real.

Aside from the app’s safety features, Roomi has multiple features to make searching for apartments easier. You can choose to show only ID-verified users, price, duration, apartment layout, what kind of property, the number of bedrooms, and amenities available.

Features:

Filter your search by location, gender preferences for your roommate, smoking habits, pets, and many more.
Has the option to see completely or partially verified profiles, and any linked social media profile.
Uses Global ID to ensure safety and privacy.
Offers 24/7 support.
Has in-app chat messaging for data privacy.

Pricing: Roomi is free to use, whether for personal or business use, with some different upgrades and subscriptions available.

For personal users:

Safety Bundle: unlimited messaging, five active listings, up to 7x boost in visibility, and user verification.
Listing Boost Credits: super boosts listings for 24 hours.
Profile Boost Credits: pushes profile to the top of the search page in the area for 3 hours.

For business users:

Solo Agent: direct messaging with up to 10 tenants per day, a verified Partner badge, and 10 active listings.
Business Unlimited: unlimited listings and unlimited tenant messages.

2. Trulia

Source: Trulia

Trulia has three options: users can buy, rent, or sell houses. It’s a real estate database that offers listings for rent and for sale and also connects users with listing agents.

Trulia’s listings are complete with a list of all the key information on top and an estimate of the monthly mortgage payment. It also has property photos and realtor contacts included, plus a detailed description of the property, listing agent, features, and similar homes in the area.

Features:

Can filter according to price, number of bedrooms, type of structure, square footage, and lot size.
Provides users a visual breakdown of monthly costs for listings and a crime map data.

Pricing: Trulia is free to use, but has a $29 application fee with unlimited applications to rentals for 30 days, and credit and background reports.

3. The Listings Project

Source: The Listings Project

This one’s very straightforward. What started as a mailer list by Stephanie Diamond for artists looking for cheap places to crash — today covers all five boroughs of New York. But that’s not all! They’re currently servicing 70 countries around the world, including all of the US.

Anyone can sign up to receive their emails, which arrive on Wednesdays. You can then contact individuals through the Listings Project email to inquire about spaces and opportunities.

Features:

Offers listings for real estate, jobs, and gigs, and for those looking for living or workspaces.
Vets and personally reviews each listing.

Pricing: The Listings Project has listing fees that depend on location and type.

For Real Estate listings: $44/per listing
For those seeking living or work spaces: $9 to $39/per listing

4. StreetEasy

Source: StreetEasy

StreetEasy has many advertisements across the city as New York’s premiere real estate listing platform. It includes both with-fee and no-fee apartments in NYC that provide clusters to help users find results based on their specific needs.

Features:

Can search according to neighborhood, building, or address, minimum and maximum price, and number of bedrooms. It also has advanced search options with more filters.
Agents will contact you if you’re interested in a property.

Pricing: All rental listings advertised on StreetEasy are charged a daily fee of $7 per listing per day.

5. Go No Fee

Source: Go No Fee

Go No Fee is a website that specializes in no-fee apartments in NYC. The platform offers a portfolio of no-fee rentals directly from management in the neighborhoods of New York City.

Features:

Has a list of filters: number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, types of properties, amenities, and price.
Includes a detailed description, floorplan, transportation, points of interest, parks and recreations, and retail in listings.

Pricing: Go No Fee is free.

No-Fee Apartment Listings: The Best One

Finding no-fee apartments in New York has never been easier. With the help of these 5 websites, you can browse through a wide range of options without worrying about any extra charges. But the best one is the website that has no extra charges, includes ID verification, and 24/7 support, like Roomi!

Roomi has endless recommendations crafted to your needs, whether you’re looking for a room to call home, a couch to call your bed, or a roommate to share these with. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to find your dream apartment without breaking the bank. Sign up today and start your search for the perfect no-fee apartment!