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Posted by Gere on July 27, 2001 at 15:56:55:

I'm in a rent stabilized NYC apartment. I started with an initial vacancy lease and am currently on a 1 year renewal lease.

I paid a large broker fee upon signing the initial vacancy lease. The agent (who wasn't too bright) did tell me that 1/2 the fee went to the landlord, since his brokerage company had an exclusive arrangement with the landlord for my building (there is also a sign to that effect on the bulding). I suspect the agent and anyone else at his employer would now deny this if I filed an overcharge complaint against the landlord on the basis that he received half the broker fee. Does anyone know what kind of evidentiary standards/rules there are for such complaints: e.g., is hearsay evidence allowed - both my wife and I were informed of the fee splitting on separate occasions?

Also, when I moved in I had to give 2.5 months rent as security deposit since I was from out of state and had no U.S. credit history (I'm Canadian). Does this also constitute an overcharge, or is there an exception in such instances?

Thanks.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Overcharge for broker fees and deposit Lilly 07/29/01 (1)
  • Re: Overcharge for broker fees and deposit Gere 07/29/01 (0)

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Comments:
: I'm in a rent stabilized NYC apartment. I started with an initial vacancy lease and am currently on a 1 year renewal lease. 

: I paid a large broker fee upon signing the initial vacancy lease. The agent (who wasn't too bright) did tell me that 1/2 the fee went to the landlord, since his brokerage company had an exclusive arrangement with the landlord for my building (there is also a sign to that effect on the bulding). I suspect the agent and anyone else at his employer would now deny this if I filed an overcharge complaint against the landlord on the basis that he received half the broker fee. Does anyone know what kind of evidentiary standards/rules there are for such complaints: e.g., is hearsay evidence allowed - both my wife and I were informed of the fee splitting on separate occasions?

: Also, when I moved in I had to give 2.5 months rent as security deposit since I was from out of state and had no U.S. credit history (I'm Canadian). Does this also constitute an overcharge, or is there an exception in such instances?

: Thanks. 


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