Quoted in Brick Underground: The Real Fallout of FARE Act Broker Fees

Brick Underground’s June 10th deep-dive lays out what every renter needs to know before the FARE Act kicks in on June 11: landlords, not tenants, must pay broker fees—unless you hire the agent yourself. The article tracks the lawsuit that tried to stall the law, the fines for violators, and, most critically, how owners are already rewriting the math to protect their margins.

“Landlords we work with have bumped asking rents 8–12 percent to cover the one-month broker fee they’re now responsible for… With the fee baked into the rent, tenants will pay it every month and again at renewal.”
— Rachel Fiegler, Co-Founder, Pinpointe Group

Why That Matters

StreetEasy pegs average rent hikes at 5.3 percent ahead of the law, but our boots-on-the-ground data shows some owners pushing double-digit jumps. The sticker shock disappears at lease signing—yet renters shoulder that fee in dripped-out monthly installments and compounded renewal increases. “No-fee” doesn’t equal “no cost.”

Pinpointe POV

We’re cheering any move that cuts upfront barriers, but let’s be real: landlords aren’t eating a dime. If you’re hunting this summer, focus on the total two-year cost, not the headline rent. And if you need a broker to guide you, make sure the fee—and who pays it—is crystal-clear before you tour.

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