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DCWP Announces the FARE Act Is Now in Effect
June 11, 2025
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today announced that the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which was passed by the New York City Council last year and bans landlords from passing broker fees on to prospective tenants, is effective immediately. It is now illegal for landlords to charge real estate broker fees to renters. This ban applies even if a lease was signed before today’s effective date, but the broker fee has not been paid yet.
“We take seriously our role in protecting consumers and strive to build a culture of compliance with the laws we enforce,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “If you are forced to pay a fee for a broker you did not hire, or believe you’ve encountered other violations of the law, we urge you to reach out and file a complaint by visiting nyc.gov/consumers or calling 311.”
In addition to the ban on forcing tenants to pay the broker fees of agents hired by landlords, landlords and their agents must provide a written itemized list of all the fees a prospective tenant must pay before signing the lease, like background checks and credit checks. Every rental listing must also disclose all fees prospective tenants would have to pay to rent the property.
Landlords are liable for violations committed by the listing agents they have hired or authorized to post a listing. In addition to the civil penalties and restitution for consumers who are wrongfully charged brokers fees, the FARE Act also gives prospective tenants the right to sue in civil court. Tenants who believe their consumer rights are being violated should file a complaint by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/consumers.
Yesterday, a federal court denied preliminary injunctive relief in a lawsuit over the law, however the case remains pending and under judicial review.
DCWP strives to build a culture of compliance with the city’s laws. For more information on the FARE Act, visit our FAQ. Landlords or real estate brokers with questions about this law or any of the laws DCWP enforces should reach out to our Business Compliance Counsel at: BCC@dcwp.nyc.gov.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)—formerly the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)—protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contacts:
Michael Lanza / Stephany Vasquez Sanchez
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-0042
press@dcwp.nyc.gov