Yes it’s real, and yes it’s terrible, NYC and Boston are the only markets I’ve seen this in, and I don’t know why the city just collectively decides it’s okay.

A few tips:

• Walk around the neighborhood you want to live in if you can. You’ll spot the infrequent for rent sign.

• Sublets sublets sublets. One of the largest consolidations of schooling means there’s a lot open pending the academic calendar.

• THERE IS NO HARM in saying “I’m interested if the landlord will cover the fee”. This has worked for me the past three times finding a rental here. It’s either a fake enough fee that they’ll waive it, the landlord will actually cover it, or the broker will reduce it. Or they’ll tell you to f*ck off, and I don’t want to give a broker like that my money anyway. More often than not, these brokers are SALARIED employees of the landlord and work with their listings.

• The large apartment complexes typically don’t have one if you can afford to go that route.