• errer@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If Massachusetts was serious about housing reform they’d legislate away the broker’s fees. But they aren’t, so they won’t.

    • Nintendo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      they won’t. broker industry is in the pockets of beacon Hill and the suits like how they somehow managed to inflate the cost of their house that’s located in an arctic tundra of a state

    • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      If renters don’t pay the fee, what prevents brokers from charging the landlords, who will increase rent to make it back?

      Why not offer a central register where every offer has to be registered which could eliminate the need for brokers entirely?

      • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Landlords won’t increase rent just because their costs go up. If they could increase rent now, they absolutely would. It has nothing to do with costs.

        If they could increase rent now, but aren’t, they’re shit at their job.

        • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          Landlords can increase as long as renters are able to pay more. If you remove the broker fees then there is room for higher rents.

          • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            As long as renters ‘are willing’ to pay more. It will take time for the market to adjust. While that happens people win out.

            • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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              1 year ago

              If you rent for 20 month, and pay one month as fee, you save 5%.

              How much over construction costs do landlords rent out their property?

              If rent can go down much more than 5% I wouldn’t focus energy on it but on other means to reduce rent.