But it can be done. You can often find no-fee apartments by going directly to buildings’ management companies. Many buildings allow you to eliminate the broker middleman by renting directly through their management companies. No fee, no hassle. Below is a list of some management companies that offer no-fee rentals:
Rockrose Development – Rockrose manages luxury apartment buildings in the Wall Street area, Tribeca, Soho, Chelsea, Midtown, and the Upper East Side. The Rockrose web site lets you easily search for available buildings and view photos and floor plans. These are beautiful buildings with lots of amenities, but they’re not cheap. Monthly rents start at about $1700 for a studio in the non-happening Wall Street area. Make sure your credit is good -- Rockrose has high standards.
Jakobson Properties – Jakobson manages more than 2000 no-fee apartments in Manhattan buildings, specializing in downtown. They offer a range of apartments from affordable to high-end. You can browse through current listings on their web site.
Related Rentals – Related Rentals manages 16 high-end rental buildings all over Manhattan. You can search for available apartments on their website – but don’t bother if you’re not willing to pay at least $2,000 a month for a studio.
Bettina Equities – Bettina Equities manages a large number of rental buildings all over Manhattan. The buildings range from affordable pre-war walk-ups to luxury high-rises. The best deals can be found on the Upper East Side. On their web site, you can search for available apartments by neighborhood or rent price range.
