The phrase “broker fee ban” can be misleading. NYC’s FARE Act took effect June 11, 2025. A landlord’s broker, including a listing agent, cannot charge their fee to the tenant. A broker you independently hire can charge you. Use the city’s current FAQ for the rules and complaint process.
Start with the relationship, not the listing label
For each apartment, write down the advertiser, the person showing it, the proposed landlord and any agent representing you. Ask who engaged each broker. A listing marked “no-fee” does not explain the entire move-in bill; an unmarked listing does not establish that you owe a commission.
A fee review before committing
- Ask for an itemized list of charges and identify the recipient and purpose of each one.
- If you are choosing a separate search broker, discuss their services and fee agreement before engaging them.
- Compare the written disclosure with the application and lease. Ask about inconsistencies before signing.
- Keep the listing, correspondence, disclosure and agreement together so you can explain a disputed charge.
Compare apartments using the whole cost
Use two columns: recurring costs and one-time costs. Put monthly rent, utilities you expect to pay and optional amenities in the first; put moving expenses and disclosed upfront charges in the second. A refundable deposit is money you must have available, rather than the same kind of expense as rent. Compare actual offers using the same lease length. This calculation does not predict how landlords will price apartments after the law.
When a charge is unclear
Describe the charge and your broker relationship to DCWP or a qualified tenant adviser. A complaint needs specific records, so save dates, names and screenshots. This guide does not determine whether an individual agreement or charge is lawful.
Finding listings
AptAlert checks public Craigslist, StreetEasy and LeaseBreak listings and links back to them. Broker-fee filtering is paused because fee labels are not a dependable way to classify these listings. Verify fees with the advertiser before applying.