In NYC, a landlord’s broker cannot pass their commission to the tenant under the FARE Act. A broker you independently engage may charge you. That distinction is more useful than searching only for the words “no-fee.”
Why a no-fee filter may be missing
StreetEasy says its no-fee designation and filter are no longer active. AptAlert has paused broker-fee filtering rather than guess from absent labels. You can still search by neighborhood, price and bedrooms, then ask about the relationship and charges on each suitable listing.
Use a listing checklist
- Identify the landlord, listing contact and anyone representing you.
- Ask who hired any broker and request a written breakdown of charges.
- Confirm the monthly rent, lease length, utilities and any concession terms.
- Check the disclosure against the application and proposed lease.
Build a comparison sheet
Use columns for the original listing link, apartment address, monthly rent, recurring extras, disclosed upfront costs and questions still unanswered. Mark an unknown cost as unknown rather than zero. Separate refundable deposits from expenses while including both in the cash you need at move-in.
Direct listings still need verification
A post that says “by owner” may be accurate, but the words alone do not prove ownership or authority to rent the unit. Verify the contact and apartment before sending money. Conversely, a professional agent can represent a legitimate apartment without making their fee yours to pay.
When the paperwork disagrees
Keep copies of the listing, correspondence, disclosure and agreements. Ask DCWP or a qualified tenant adviser to review a disputed charge. Do not sign an unexplained broker agreement simply to unlock access to a listing.
Use alerts to find candidates
AptAlert searches public Craigslist, StreetEasy and LeaseBreak listings and sends matches for your saved criteria. It does not certify an apartment’s fees, advertiser or availability. Use each alert as a starting point for the checks above.