‘Now [$12,000] looks like chump change’: 20+ NYC renters share their most frustrating experiences in the real estate market

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Feb 20, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Ah yes, the city of dreams. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere! But, seriously, if you don't come from some sort of privilege and you decide to move to NYC tomorrow, it would be very very difficult for you. I moved here many years ago when rent was closer to $700, but now… Pffffffft, fahgettaboutit! Seriously, I was already struggling as a person trying to make it on their own even with that "cheap" rent. (I know, someone who isn't a nepo-baby moved to NYC, impossible!) Even that being said, I still had more privileged than many others who try to move here—I had a college education and friends/family who always knew someone who knew someone in NYC that could help me out with some weird under the table gig to help me make rent. So, though I survived off of a can of peanut butter for months and the free cheese puffs at the bars, I was still cruising. But now, I fully believe if I had moved to NYC today in the same way, I would not be able to afford rent. Unless I lived in a questionably legal artist complex deep in Brownsville, that has like 5 people to a room, I would definitely fail. 

 

Rent has always been a contentious point for New Yorkers—the landlords and brokers want more money and the renters just want to be able to afford an actual functioning roof over their heads while they try to chase their dreams. And don't even get me started on the children of the wealthy parents coming in and not caring for either side…

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    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

     

    New York is working on a law that bans broker fees for renters. If you have never rented in NYC: Brokers are the people who unlock the door of the apartment for you to go view it. For the past several years, they've been charging a percentage of a YEAR'S worth of rent to the potential renters. Sometimes that fee can be $4k-$6k. It's insane. Hopefully, this summer a law passes that bans that and the only people who have to pay the brokers are the people who actually hire them. 

     

    That being said, New Yorkers are used to being teased with these kind of renter laws, just for their hope to get lost within the courts. It's exhausting. So, some have turned to Reddit to vent and share their frustration with it all. See the most annoying experience with brokers and landlords below! 

  • "What’s the most “spit in your face moment by a broker” I’ll go first"

    This was last year I had $12,000 in savings, found an apartment that looked nice inside, front door where next to an alley that looked like a dump. Rent was $2500 and the brokers fee was $4000 and some change. So I apply, have decent credit and a good income.
    via Mattress-King
  • Then the day comes where I get rejected and call the broker, he tells me that "it just seems like you won't have a lot of money if you move in" proceeds to grab a paper and lays it out for me, first months $2500, security deposit $2500, broker fee $4000 and some change, movers $1300.
    via Mattress-King
  • GEEZ I WONDER WHICH ONE ISNT NECESSARY!! $4000 just to open a door and all he does is say "yeah a lot of people are interested in the apartment" doesn't answer any questions, keeps repeating "yeah a lot of people are interested in the apartment" $12,000 used to be a down payment back in the day, now it looks like chump change to these evil brokers, what the h I is even the point of them??
    via Mattress-King
  • childpeas not a broker, but we were trying to break our lease to move into a better apartment for similar price. the landlord proceeded to tell us that it was going to be very difficult to rent the apartment as it was december, vacations, winter, etc, basically saying they wanted to take current month rent, next months rent, and security deposit.
    via childpeas
  • Cheezburger Image 10470058496
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • they then, in the next breath, said we could try to sublease the apartment ourselves and that it would be easy because of the location, price, etc. i asked her straight up, you just said you wouldn't be able to rent it, and then said it would be easy to rent it. so which one is it? no response, just moved on. luckily we settled on a good number and they let us break the lease. but that interaction was pretty funny.
    via childpeas
  • frakitwhynot When a broker showed us a no fee apartment that we were already planning on looking at, after we explicitly told him we weren't paying a broker fee, and then proceeded to charge a broker fee. We then tried going through management because it was no fee, but they said they would only go through him, essentially forcing us to pay a fee on a no fee apartment. He knew exactly what he was doing, by telling us to meet him at an intersection instead of an address, so we wouldn't be able to
    via frakitwhynot
  • iheartpizzaberrymuch The ones that obviously went with someone else because I was black. One actually told me well the landlord didn't want any black people. Why not sue you ask, how can I prove that? Yes, I did try sending an email about why I didn't get the place and no response. It's always interesting because anywhere else it would be so much easier because my job and income is stable, but in the city where I'm actually from they rather rent to someone that's probably not even native.
    via iheartpizzaberrymuch
  • biglindafitness Born and raised Bed-Stuyer here, Before I found the apartment I am in now, I was looking for places the traditional way (streeteasy, zillow, apartments.com etc) I am lucky/privileged enough to have a parent who was willing and eager to be my guarantor.... EVERY broker that reached out after applying, shut me down because they ONLY take OUT OF STATE guarantors. I quickly realized its not only about money, but who they can fool.
    via biglindafitness
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    via Unsplash+ (and Charles Etoroma)
  • blackberrymousse Looked at a studio in a building on the UES next to the NYC Racquet Club (which I guess is closed now) at the end of 2019. Bizarre, unpleasant experience from start to finish. I was waiting in the lobby for the broker as instructed and some old lady who came through the front door started snapping at me and cursed me out for standing in the lobby before storming into the building. Broker was late and when he finally showed up, he took me up to the unit, let me look for about 2 m
    via blackberrymousse
  • His whole tone and demeanor was really hostile, so I just mumbled something like 'It's nice, I'll think about it.' He was like 'Ok, well, that's it, you know the way out.' After my run in with the old lady, I probably wasn't going to consider living there anyway and the only reason I didn't just leave was because I didn't want to cancel last minute on the broker. He must've been related to the old lady or something, they had the same attitude.
    via blackberrymousse
  • Mannymal "Hey another buyer offered a cash offer, can you ask your parents to help you buy cash instead of a mortgage?" No dude, I help my parents, not the other way around.
    via Mannymal
  • Calm_Map3130 Had a guy show up 45 minutes late, double park, speed run through the unit, take a without washing his hands, and then leave without a word because he was getting honked at. Definitely made me happy to continue the streak of never using a broker to find an apartment my whole life living here.
    via Calm_Map3130
  • hollapainyo Not me but my friend paid a $2500 broker fee for a 1br in ditmas park. She moved out after a month because the psychopath above her was blasting music all night and seemed like he might get violent when confronted. Apparently the previous person in the apartment moved out for the same reason. Management obviously didn't do anything to fix it. but did let her break the lease. She got the broker to say he would give some of the fee back but the a h le never did. The broker probably jus
    via hollapainyo
  • Cheezburger Image 10470058752
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Terrible-Department I had 60k saved up, girlfriend had 12k saved up, was applying for a rent stabilized unit one bed at 2860 and with both of our combined incomes we made 140k, well over the 40x. They had the audacity to still demand a guarantor bc I had just started a new job.
    via Terrible-Department
  • WinterofDiscontent28 I message a broker about an apartment on StreetEasy and we plan to meet at the apartment later that day. He shows up 30 minutes late and shows me the apartment hurriedly then tells me a bunch of super qualified people already applied, so he probably shouldn't have shown me the place. Then he shows me another apartment nearby that was 600 dollars more per month. He was either totally incompetent and wasted my time or really overestimated how clever he was.
    via WinterofDiscontent28
  • Another one showed me an apartment that was on top of an empty store that looked pretty run down. I'm willing to bet it had some kind of infestation. The apartment was pretty janky and small, but there was a line of people waiting to see it going down the block. The broker suggested I put in a higher offer. I can't believe they're trying to normalize bidding on a rental, but especially one in such bad shape.
    via WinterofDiscontent28
  • Cheezburger Image 10470061312
    via Unsplash+ (and SJ Objio)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • mikeydeemo I had a broker tell me that "so many people are interested in this unit and you should apply immediately" and "February is one of the most extremely high traffic, competitive months for the market" like I am some newbie out of towner lol. It was hysterical allowing him to just lie endlessly.
    via mikeydeemo
  • ath7u My last lease was the first time seeing this concept of a "dual agent" where they ostensibly represent both the renter and the landlord. Which... if they're not advocating on my behalf, why the h_I am I paying them? Every one of these agents had me pay for an application, submit it, and then call me back to say, "oh actually somebody else offered $X, can you do better than that?" You're either paid by the LL to get the best rent, or you're paid by the renter to help them find the right apa
    via ath7u
  • mmmm whatchasay I messaged about an apartment asking if there was an elevator. I needed an elevator for medical reasons. Refused to answer the question. Insisted I come look and find out myself. That tells me that there isn't one, but what the f
    via mmmm_whatchasay

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