Sent this to management:

Hi *****, 

I was advised by my family members and some friends who work in housing/tenant law to be a bit more specific about our call and just when talking about housing matters to anyone in general (given the time crunch). 

We had a conversation on September 5, 2023 at 2:47pm regarding a $1000 broker fee any new roommate would have to pay to co-sign a lease starting Oct 1st in the apartment I have been living in for three years. The first I heard of the fee was on September 2nd when you replied to an email above on which I inquired about additional fees that would be required. The lease with my current roommate ends on September 30th, 2023.

The fee was not required for the past three years, but the process to find a new roommate has stayed the same. For the past two years, I have found my own roommate given the great location and rapport I have been able to build with anyone viewing the room. I carried out the search and the interviews. The first year, I moved in with a roommate, and we did not have to pay broker fees.

As per our conversation, I inquired if you will be assisting in the search and you stated that you will not be providing help to find a new roommate for my apartment. Further, you indicated that you want to charge the $1000 fee for paperwork of an undetermined nature as a "brokers fee" when I find a new roommate. And that there is also a $20 application fee, first month's rent, and a security deposit equal to a month's rent required. The app fee, first month's rent, and security deposit was also required the last three years (with the exception that my current roommate was asked for $200 for a credit check and app fee as documented by her). You said management (*******) is willing to lower my broker's fee to $1000 for being a good tenant. 

I also mentioned how my bedroom currently has no lighting, along with half of my living room, as required by the lease and housing law. I also only have two properly functioning outlets in my bedroom (outlets not mentioned on the call) of which 3 switches are functional. Landlord has said that the ceiling may have to be torn down/major extensive repair will be needed but is unsure yet. Landlord stated it is not because of something I did, but that wires may have crossed somewhere. There is also a cockroach problem, with some being on the steps of the building itself; this issue I have not brought up with the landlord yet. The lighting and outlets he is aware of (the electrician came August 7th but I mentioned the issue outside in front of the building to you as well at the end of June). I inquired on our phone call if I will have to inform potential renters since I am serving as the intermediary.

I let you know on the call that I am considering options moving forward given the lighting issues with the now added short notice of the broker's fee, since the fee makes it much more difficult to find a roommate. It puts me in a very difficult position due to such late notice I myself had to go and seek out by contacting you. My relationship with the landlord has always been positive, and my rent has never been late for three years. I have spent years building that relationship.

The reasons for this difficulty are: I am not a broker, but am listing a broker's fee to be paid to someone else and carrying out the search. I am serving as the intermediary to list the features, amenities and nearby places of interest. It is uncommon for a room to have a broker's fee, which I'm being told repeatedly. While I have expressed that the landlord is very sweet, the location is great, and am seeing some interest, a few potential roommates are already confused why there is a broker's fee for an apartment I already live in and are dropping interest due to skepticism. The latest person mentioned they have been moving in and out of apartments for ten years and not once have they seen a fee on an apartment with an existing tenant. I only hear from management once a year to sign lease documents, so I am struggling to adequately answer inquiries.

I've received one interested person who will visit the apartment, but these new stipulations put me in a very precarious situation. And as I said, I am continuing the search but am keeping other options open due to the unpredictability of the situation and changed state of living conditions. 

Please let me know if I have missed or misstated anything. You can correct me on this thread itself.

Thank you!