Finding an affordable apartment in New York City has never been easy—but since the FARE Act went into effect in June 2025, it’s gotten even harder.
The law banned landlords from charging renters broker fees. But instead of saving renters money, many landlords have just baked those broker fees into the monthly rent. According to The Wall Street Journal and BAM, rents have spiked by over 15%, and annual rent increases are now calculated off that higher baseline.
That’s why where you search matters more than ever.
Some platforms still funnel you to brokers and overpriced listings. Others give you transparency, real pricing data, or access to no-fee and direct-from-landlord units.
Here are the 8 best websites to find truly affordable apartments in NYC post-FARE Act—ranked by how much they actually help you save:
1. Padspin
Best for avoiding inflated rents and hidden broker fees
Padspin charges landlords a flat, low fee—not thousands—so rent stays lower for renters. It also gives landlords real-time and historical market data to price units fairly. The result: faster leases, lower rent, and no hidden fees baked into the monthly price.
Website: padspin.com
2. StreetEasy
Best for high inventory and price trend tracking
StreetEasy is NYC’s biggest rental platform and lets you filter for no-fee and rent-stabilized units. It also shows price histories and neighborhood data—but be aware: many landlords have raised prices post-FARE Act, and broker-fee structures still influence listings.
Website: streeteasy.com
3. RentHop
Best for listing accuracy and fee visibility
RentHop ranks listings with its "HopScore" to weed out stale or low-quality posts. It’s clear about fee status and often includes direct-from-landlord options. Helpful if you’re trying to spot legitimate, no-fee listings.
Website: renthop.com
4. Openigloo
Best for landlord transparency and real tenant reviews
Openigloo helps renters avoid bad landlords by offering real reviews, violation records, and complaint history for NYC buildings and owners. If you're trying to avoid predatory rent hikes or neglectful landlords in a post-FARE market, this is a must-use resource.
Website: openigloo.com
5. Zillow Rentals
Best national platform with NYC filters
Zillow aggregates listings from brokers and landlords across NYC. While broker influence is high (and rents reflect post-FARE inflation), Zillow’s filters can help you find no-fee listings or explore cross-borough options if you're flexible.
Website: zillow.com/rent
6. Facebook Marketplace & Housing Groups
Best for direct-to-renter deals and sublets
NYC Facebook groups often feature lease takeovers, private rentals, and sublets with no broker involved. You’ll find some of the best deals here—but exercise caution, as scams and misrepresentation are common.
Website: facebook.com/marketplace
7. HotPads
Best for visually comparing listings across neighborhoods
HotPads makes it easy to see listings mapped out by price and proximity to subway lines. Its filters help highlight no-fee listings and affordable neighborhoods, especially if you’re new to the city.
Website: hotpads.com
8. NYBits
Best for no-fee and rent-stabilized listings from owners
NYBits features many listings from owners and management companies directly, making it easier to avoid broker markups. It’s a no-frills site with powerful search filters for Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.
Website: nybits.com
Final Take
After the FARE Act, most NYC rents now quietly include thousands in hidden broker fees. Your monthly price is inflated—and your annual renewal is now based on that higher number.
That’s why choosing the right platform matters.
Padspin, Openigloo, and NYBits give you the transparency, data, and pricing structure needed to fight back against rising rents. If you’re serious about saving money in this new rental landscape, start there.