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How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in Staten Island
Staten Island is NYC's most residential borough — more suburban in feel, with some of the largest apartments and lowest rents in the city. Most landlords here rent directly, making it one of the easiest boroughs to avoid broker fees entirely.
1. Go directly to the building
The single most effective way to avoid a broker fee is to contact the building's management office directly. Large rental buildings in Staten Island almost always have a leasing office that handles inquiries without involving a broker.
2. Use NFNY — not StreetEasy broker listings
StreetEasy mixes broker listings with direct listings. If a listing shows "fee," a broker is involved and you'll owe them — typically one month's rent. NFNY only shows no-fee listings placed directly by landlords.
3. Watch for bait-and-switch
A common broker tactic: list an attractive apartment online, get your call, then steer you to a different unit — claiming to now be your "tenant's broker" for that unit. If you contact a building directly through NFNY, this risk disappears entirely.
4. Understand "no-fee" vs "LL pays"
Some listings advertised as "no-fee" mean "the landlord pays the broker fee." That's not the same as going direct — the broker is still involved, and you may still owe a fee if you came in through that broker, even at a "no-fee" building. Going direct through NFNY eliminates the broker from the equation entirely.
Browse by Apartment Size in Staten Island
Looking for a specific bedroom count? Browse no-fee apartments by size: