Expensive Application Fee

Sorry - this post applies to rental apartment

First things first, the real questions is... where are you looking to rent? If you are renting in a rental building (ie, a building that is comprised entirely of rentals) then your application should be between $50-$200 dollars.

If you are looking in a co-op or condo, it is not unheard of to have a $500 application fee, plus additional credit check fees for everyone that will be living in the apartment over the age of 18.

As for why the management applications are so expensive, just realize that those fees pay the bills of the management company and also for the time spent reviewing them. You really can't do much about them.

Regarding the broker taking money for himself? If that is the case, you should report him/her to REBNY, assuming they are REBNY brokers. This is inexcusable. You should only be charged for what you MUST be charged for. The broker gets a commission. I don't know the illegality of it, but I would consider that to be borderline theft.

(Matthew Russell - Brown Harris Stevens)

Yes I was referring to entirely rental building NOT condo or co-op application. Lets for example if I would be interested in applying for an apt at 95 Christopher st. The management would charge $75 per application. But since I signed a fee form with this brokerage company I have to take it with this broker and he tells me he collects $300 application fee.

I still don't think they could do that. If I were in your shoes I would say that you pay them a flat commission based on the apartment's price and nothing above that. I would also ask for the reasoning that they are requesting more money that is above and beyond the application fee. (And lastly, I would assume/hope that the check you write for the application is to the management company and not to the broker directly.)

What MRussell says, and also tell them that you insist on being able to live in the apartment 365 days per year.

jennedwards45- smaller and shady brokers do this as a way to get you to work w them. be careful, half of the time the apt is no longer available, etc.. guarantee you a broker at a respected and large company in manhattan would not/could not do that

95 chris only charges $20 per applicant.

" If I were in your shoes I would say that you pay them a flat commission based on the apartment's price and nothing above that. I would also ask for the reasoning that they are requesting more money that is above and beyond the application fee."

I am NOT going to pay a lot for my muffler.