Boston, MA

Landlords in Greater Boston may have to start paying their own broker fees

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2024

Landlords in Greater Boston may have to start paying their own broker fees

BOSTON – Rent in Boston is already sky high, but sometimes renters are asked to pay the first and last month’s rent, security deposit, and broker fee. The total is all too often as much as four months’ rent upfront. Newly proposed Massachusetts legislation aims to put the broker fee on the landlord’s dime.

“When I first heard about [the broker fee], I thought it was a scam,” said Madison Survin, a renter who moved to Boston from Dallas. She wasn’t used to these upfront costs. “I personally don’t have any savings, and I’m grateful that my parents do.”

Broker fees a Boston area issue

Some experts call the broker fee strictly a Boston area issue where renters will pay anything to find a place in a tight market.

“If you have a broker working with a landlord outside of Boston, typically the landlord pays for that,” explains Doug Quattrocchi, a landlord and the Executive Director of Mass Landlords.

He says the state’s legal framework only allows a landlord to ask for first and last month’s rent, along with a security deposit and locks fee. He puts broker fees in a gray area, much like pet fees.

“The law already makes it clear that landlords shouldn’t be asking renters to pay for it, but there’s a lack of enforcement,” said Quattrochi, who says a large portion of their members do not ask their renters to pay broker fees.

This of course, doesn’t mean that renters will be free of the financial burden even if the law passes.

“All they have to do if this law were to pass is to raise the rent to cover the broker fee,” adds Quattrochi.

How did broker fees start in the first place?

Quattrochi says it has become increasingly difficult for landlords to evict troublesome tenants, making it crucial that they select the right one. This is where a broker comes in.

“Last time I rented a three-bedroom apartment in Worcester, I had 192 applicants for one apartment, so brokers are wading through that,” said Quattrochi. “We know if there is a mistake in tenant selection that the buck stops with us. We are the ones who have to pay for that eviction. This wasn’t really as necessary when it was possible to evict misbehaving tenants quickly, so you didn’t have to screen carefully.”

“They choose to get a broker to do this so credit can be run, references can be checked from former landlords,” said Nicole Vermillion, a real estate broker with Lamacchia Realty. She is also a landlord.

Clients weighing whether to rent or buy

Vermillion now has clients weighing whether to drop that money on rent, or to find a way to buy instead.

“That’s almost a small downpayment on a house for some people. I always tell people, if you can live where you are living for maybe a discounted cost, be that at home, at an in-law, or with a friend, save up because your money is only going toward your landlord’s mortgage,” said Vermillion. “When you are putting that much money down, it should make you wonder, should I put that toward something equity buildable rather than washing away with rent?”

Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan is a multimedia journalist for WBZ-TV. He returned to his home state of Massachusetts after reporting in the Midwest for more than ten years.

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Boston, MA

+)WAY TO WATCH Ｆｒｅｅ Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE

Published

3 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals

Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE GAME: Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals look to seize control of thrilling Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals. Every team in the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals will host Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals at Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals Park Stadium with the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals a single point ahead of Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals in the standings and just one behind leaders Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals.

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Boston, MA

Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe

Published

15 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe

Gray, acquired in a November trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, was one of Boston’s key rotation additions, along with Ranger Suarez, in the offseason. He was 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2025.

“He’s very specific about his work. Every day has a purpose,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gray. “Two hundred strikeouts, that’s something that we were looking for. The competitor. Every five days, this guy is going to give you everything.”

In his five career appearances against the Reds, Gray is 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA.

“It’s pretty much one of the only things that is continuing to push me, is to get to a World Series, to win a World Series, to pitch in big games,” said Gray. “I love the moment, and I am chasing that moment.”

Here’s the preview:

RED SOX (1-0): TBA

Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray

REDS (0-1): TBA

Pitching: RHP Brady Singer

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Singer: Wilyer Abreu 2-5, Roman Anthony 1-2, Willson Contreras 2-7, Jarren Duran 3-10, Caleb Durbin 0-1, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 6-16, Marcelo Mayer 0-1, Andruw Monasterio 1-4, Carlos Narváez 1-1, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-5, Trevor Story 0-4, Connor Wong 2-8, Masataka Yoshida 2-7

Reds vs. Gray: Will Benson 0-5, Elly De La Cruz 5-11, TJ Friedl 1-8, Ke’Bryan Hayes 4-17, Nathaniel Lowe 2-10, Noelvi Marte 0-5, Matt McLain 2-2, Spencer Steer 4-9, Tyler Stephenson 0-8, Eugenio Suárez 7-13, Jose Trevino 0-2

Stat of the day: Sal Stewart become the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 to record three hits on Opening Day.

Notes: Cincinnati sends righthander Brady Singer (14-12, 4.03 in 2025) to the mound … With Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo already on the injured list to start the season, Singer is considered one of Cincinnati’s most durable pitchers, leading the Reds with 32 starts last season … Singer has made five career starts against Boston, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA over 24 innings … His last appearance against the Red Sox, on July 1 in Boston, ended after just three innings when he allowed two earned runs on three hits.

Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.

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Boston, MA

Mayor Robert Van Campen talks about priorities in Everett

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Mayor Robert Van Campen talks about priorities in Everett

Nearly three months since assuming office as mayor of Everett, Massachusetts, Mayor Robert Van Campen isn’t wasting any time.

The former city councilor ousted 18-year incumbent Carlo DeMaria in decisive fashion last November, but even so, issues surrounding his predecessor still linger at City Hall.

A state-led salary audit of DeMaria found $180,000 in overpayment, a finding the former mayor disputes. Van Campen says the city is monitoring ongoing investigations.

“What I’ve conveyed to my partners in government here, locally, is to allow that state process to play itself out, and then we, as a community, will make a decision,” the mayor said. “In addition to that, I recently met with Inspector General Jeff Shapiro, who visited me at City Hall. We had a great conversation about transparency in government, best practices, putting in the right systems to ensure that that type of financial oversight doesn’t happen in the future.”

Beyond the audit, Van Campen is placing emphasis on school overcrowding.

“My objective is to try to implement solutions as quickly as I can,” he said. “Our high school today, which was built for I think 1,650 students, now houses around 2,200.”

The World Cup is creating buzz across Massachusetts, including in Everett, where the Kraft Group is looking to build a soccer stadium.

To alleviate that problem, the mayor is using federal ARPA funds to repair the old Everett High School and seeking out other spaces that could be used in the future.

“Would I like to build out new classroom space for the students of Everett in the next one to two years? Yes, that’s my ideal,” Van Campen said. “But I want to make sure that if we do it on a quick timeline, it’s done in a correct and proper fashion.”

Also in focus for the mayor is a new soccer stadium for the New England Revolution on the shores of the Mystic River.

The Kraft Group, Boston, Everett and the state Legislature have all taken steps to make the project a reality, but Van Campen says there’s still more work to do.

“It’s a transformative project, it’s a breathtaking project,” said Van Campen. “But I’ve been clear with all the stakeholders around that project, and the other larger developments going on down there, that we have to make sure that transit issues are comprehensively addressed, that pedestrian access issues are comprehensively addressed, that all those issues have to be addressed to perfection in order for these projects to succeed.”

Tune in on Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. for our extended @Issue Sit Down with Van Campen.

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