I found an apartment through a broker with Citi-Habitats, and not once did the broker indicate there was a fee involved. He only had me sign a form that he said was a registration form for them, but did not mention anything about the fees. First, the broker showed my wife and I an apartment that wasn%u2019t even available for rent. Then, while I was waiting to get my application approved for the apartment, the broker first told me that the apartment I wanted was already taken, then told me he made a mistake and he put in the application for said apartment, even though I had just gone through hell convincing my wife that the backup wasn't that bad.

Now that we are in possession of the contract and forms from the property owner, he finally disclosed that he has a 15% annual rent broker's fee. First, am I correct to assume that this fee is negotiable? Second, what would happen if I didn't pay him the fee (please keep in mind this is the first time I heard of the fee and have NOT yet signed the lease)?

Two other things that are making me want to not want to pay the fee is that while he forwarded me all of the documents, the bed bug report is not completed - should he have checked this? - and he was quite rude when we looked at the apartments.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

I'm sure that the standard Citi Habitats registration form mentions the 15% fee although the broker should have been verbally explicit as well. By all means negotiate

The bed bug form should be marked no bed bugs but the landlord wouldn't necessarily sign it before you do