Landlords can no longer tack on thousands of dollars in fees to new tenants to pay brokers who show rental units.
New York City landlords will be barred from passing on broker’s fees to their tenants after a new bill passed the city council with 42 of 51 votes, reports Clio Chang in Curbed.
“The FARE (Fairness in Apartment Rentals) Act, which was first introduced by Chi Ossé in 2023, states that a landlord has to pay the fee for a broker who lists a unit for them and that brokers and landlords have to disclose any other fees to tenants up front.” According to Chang, New York is one of the few cities that lets landlords charge tenants for brokers that show rental properties, fees that can be 15 percent or more of rent and amount to thousands of dollars in added up-front fees for renters.
While critics of the bill expressed concerns about landlords raising rents to make up for the loss, they wouldn’t be allowed to do so in rent-controlled apartments, which amount to almost half of the city’s rental stock.
FULL STORY: Good-bye to the Broker Fee
The Facts About Mamdani’s Proposed NYC Rent Freeze
The mayoral candidate has promised to freeze rent for close to a million New Yorkers. Could he actually do it?
ICE Raids Are Eroding Tenant Rights for Immigrant Households
It’s getting tougher for immigrant communities to believe they still have rights as renters—even if they are living in the country legally. Here’s how tenant organizers are helping these communities push back against ICE and the landlords who are weaponizing the current political environment.
What Zohran Mamdani’s Primary Win Means for the Tenant Movement
The mayoral candidate made a rent freeze central to his campaign. Here's how his supporters used in-person campaigning to clinch a victory, and what's ahead.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association