MA Governor Vows To Ban Broker Fees For Renters

The burden of broker fees will be lifted from Massachusetts residents, Gov. Maura Healey pledged.

"The days of renters being forced to shell out upwards of $10,000 before they can even move into an apartment are over," Healey said in a statement. "I proposed banning renter-paid broker’s fees because the cost of housing is already way too high in Massachusetts without adding thousands of dollars in fees for a service you didn’t hire."

Boston is the last major U.S. city where renters are still expected to pay brokers directly, according to the website Realtor.com.

New York City did away with the fees last month, Realtor.com reported.

"Under the new legislation, New York landlords are responsible for paying any broker fees if they hire the agent, a reversal of the traditional setup that had tenants covering these costs," the website said.

The statement from Healey's office echoed that, saying her budget proposal "would require the fee to be paid by whoever hires the broker, which is usually the landlord."

"While we continue to review the full budget, I am proud to say that the budget I sign will ban renter-paid broker’s fees," Healey said.