The FARE Act changes which broker fees a NYC renter can be required to pay. It took effect June 11, 2025. The city’s DCWP FAQ explains the rule and reporting process. This guide focuses on the questions to carry through a viewing and application.
Before a viewing
Save the original listing and identify the contact arranging access. Ask who they represent and whether they are the listing agent, the landlord or a broker you are choosing separately. A brand name or a no-fee label alone does not answer that question.
At the application stage
Request the complete written charge disclosure. Compare the recipient and purpose of each charge with the broker relationship you discussed. DCWP says a landlord’s broker cannot charge their fee to the tenant; a broker you independently engage can charge you. Ask about any proposed agreement that changes who is said to have hired the broker.
Keep a transaction record
- Original listing URL and a dated copy.
- Names and contact details of the landlord and any agents.
- Written fee disclosures and proposed broker agreements.
- Application, lease and receipts for anything you pay.
Compare actual offers
Separate monthly costs from money needed at move-in. Include disclosed charges, utilities and moving costs when comparing apartments. Do not assume that the law produces a particular rent reduction or that landlords uniformly change asking rents in response. Use the terms you have actually been offered.
If a charge is disputed
Ask for an explanation in writing and preserve the records. Use DCWP’s current guidance or seek a qualified tenant adviser when an agreement needs individual interpretation. This article explains a checking process rather than deciding whether your specific charge is lawful.
Use listing alerts with the same checks
AptAlert’s broker-fee filter is paused rather than inferring fee status from missing labels. Search by location, rent and bedrooms, then confirm charges and availability with the original advertiser. Alerts do not verify the legal terms of an offer.