"The FARE Act went into effect in June, but we know that brokers are still trying to charge tenants fees; so far, the city has received 1,250 consumer complaints about exactly this. Being on the receiving end of an illegal fee request is tricky - refusing to pay feels like shooting yourself in the foot, while paying feels like shooting everyone else in the foot. That, of course, makes this the perfect question."
"There's a few paths here: Stay ethically pure (but kind of stupid) by not paying the fee, pay the fee and chalk it up to living in a fallen world, or cheat a little by paying the fee and then trying to make up for it somehow. If you can't afford the fee or if paying it harms your soul or something, your options are limited."
The FARE Act, effective in June, prohibits brokers from charging prospective tenants fees. The city has received over 1,250 complaints about brokers demanding illegal fees. Tenants facing illegal fee requests can refuse to pay, pay reluctantly, or pay and seek to recoup the cost. Tenants should report brokers to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection via online form or 311 and gather documentation such as screenshots and texts that show the broker demanded payment. Successful complaints can trigger investigations and potential remedies. Limited-income tenants may need to consider small-claims or civil enforcement options and tenant-advocacy assistance.
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