Boston Landlords May Have To Start Paying Broker Fees, Instead Of Renters, If New Bill Becomes Law

By Mike Sullivan, CBS Boston

July 17, 2024

BOSTON - Landlords in Boston may have to start paying their own broker fees, instead of renters, if a new bill becomes law.

Rent in Boston is already sky high, but sometimes renters are asked to pay the first and last month's rent, security deposit, and the broker fee. The total is often as much as four months' rent due upfront. Newly proposed Massachusetts legislation aims to put the broker fee on the landlord's dime.

"When I first heard about [the broker fee], I thought it was a scam," said Madison Survin, a renter who moved to Boston from Dallas. She wasn't used to these upfront costs. "I personally don't have any savings, and I'm grateful that my parents do."

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