{"id":1242,"date":"2012-01-12T16:39:46","date_gmt":"2012-01-12T21:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/?page_id=1242"},"modified":"2025-08-01T11:39:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:39:30","slug":"workingwithrealtors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/housingsearch\/workingwithrealtors\/","title":{"rendered":"Working with Realtors"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/h1>\n<h2>Changes to Broker Fees Effective August 1, 2025<\/h2>\n<h3>What&#8217;s Changing?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Starting August 1, 2025, Massachusetts law mandates that only the party who hires the broker\u2014either the landlord or the tenant\u2014must pay the broker fee.<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>This means:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>If a landlord hires the broker, the tenant does not pay the fee.<\/li>\n<li>If a tenant initiates contact with a broker and signs a disclosure, they may be liable for the fee, even if it\u2019s verbal or informal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&#x2705;<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\">Important: <\/span>How to Protect Yourself<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ask Upfront:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAre you a broker?\u201d \u201cWho hired you for this listing?\u201d \u201cWill the renter be expected to pay a broker fee?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Request Written Fee Disclosures:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Always ask for a written agreement that outlines who pays the fee. Don\u2019t rely on verbal assurances; verbal engagement can still trigger liability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read Everything Carefully:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Review all paperwork before signing or attending showings. Look for terms like \u201cexclusive representation\u201d or \u201cdesignated agency.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Walk Away If Unsure:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>If the terms aren\u2019t clear or you\u2019re uncomfortable, don\u2019t proceed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose Trusted Brokers:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>If you want to hire an agent to assist in your search, visit the Off-Campus Services<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/offcampus.bu.edu\/index\/agent-broker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Agent\/Broker Page<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>for a list of options. Not all agencies charge broker fees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f;<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\">Warning: <\/span>Things to Avoid<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Open Houses:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Attending without clarifying broker engagement may result in fee liability. Don\u2019t sign in for the event without understanding fee responsibility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emails, Calls, or Texts:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Initiating contact with a broker can be interpreted as hiring them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Assumptions:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Don\u2019t assume \u201cno fee\u201d just because it wasn\u2019t mentioned. Always ask and confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><strong>Good Practice Standards <\/strong>are guidelines the<strong> Boston Town &amp; Gown Association<\/strong> recommend for all real estate professionals working with Boston University students. Your knowledge of these guidelines prior to working with an agent will be helpful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Agency compliance is recommended but not enforced.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Disclaimer: The Boston Area Off-Campus Housing &amp; Student Life Coalition has informed Real Estate Professionals\/Agents of these standards, but does not investigate or endorse that the professionals\/agents are in compliance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Good Practice Standards<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Agency\u2018s broker and all its agents must maintain an up-to-date license issued by the<a title=\"MA Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mass.gov\/ocabr\/licensee\/dpl-boards\/re\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers &amp; Salespersons<\/a>. Additionally, they must meet and abide by the statutory and regulatory requirements of the <a title=\"MA Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mass.gov\/ocabr\/licensee\/dpl-boards\/re\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers &amp; Salespersons.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Abide by all standards and guidelines related to providing Rental Brokerage Fee Disclosure forms;\u00a0 clients will be provided, in writing, a description of the services the broker will offer in finding an apartment and detail the fee for such services, including when it is due.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The real estate agent\/agency will be forthcoming with clients that they represent the property owner, not clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Agree to support and comply with all state and local housing regulations, including the <a title=\"City of Boston Rental Re Inspection\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cityofboston.gov\/images_documents\/updated%20rental%20app_tcm3-44896.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">City of Boston\u2019s Rental re-inspection<\/a> (CBC 9-1.3, full code inspection requested within 45 days) and <a title=\"Rental Standards Boston\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cityofboston.gov\/isd\/housing\/pdfs\/checklist.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rental Standards <\/a>(CBC 9-1.4; Move-in day fine-able offenses) ordinances; and Boston&#8217;s zoning code requirement which limits the number of off-campus undergraduate students that share an apartment to four.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The Agency and all its agents must be in good standing with the<a title=\"Boston Better Business Bureau\" href=\"http:\/\/boston.bbb.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Better Business Bureau<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The Agency and all its agents agree to show clients actual available properties that are listed with them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The Agency must maintain a physical commercial zoned office location, where clients\/potential clients can go to have questions answered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>You Should Know:<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A licensed realtor links prospective tenants with prospective landlords.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Realtors are legally allowed to charge their clients a finder&#8217;s fee, or realty fee, for finding them an apartment. This fee can be up to the equivalent of one month&#8217;s rent. Only agents licensed by the <a title=\"M Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesperson\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mass.gov\/ocabr\/licensee\/dpl-boards\/re\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesperson <\/a>may charge this fee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Be sure to ask about the fee, whether or not it is negotiable, and when it must be paid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>You pay the realtor\u2019s fee only if you locate and rent an apartment through that agency. Otherwise, you pay nothing for any effort they invest in the search.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t feel pressured to rent any apartment or to sign any document. Read the rental application and all documents carefully before signing. Feel free to bring any documents and questions to Housing Resources for review.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Disclaimer: Housing Resources provides information to Boston University Medical Campus students, faculty and staff members solely as a courtesy, and in an advisory and referral capacity. Boston University does not endorse any realtors. Contact with persons listed herein must be conducted independently and at your own risk.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/ai.ocelotbot.com\/embed\/standard\/a18e4a47-86a0-4c46-ad4d-677e7587d39e\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Changes to Broker Fees Effective August 1, 2025 What&#8217;s Changing? Starting August 1, 2025, Massachusetts law mandates that only the party who hires the broker\u2014either the landlord or the tenant\u2014must pay the broker fee.\u00a0This means: If a landlord hires the broker, the tenant does not pay the fee. If a tenant initiates contact with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1008,"featured_media":0,"parent":351,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1242"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1242"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5873,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1242\/revisions\/5873"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}