realtor fee legality question.. (real estate, apartment, to rent)

[OuttaFlorida]

So I looked at an apartment that was posted on craigslist. I was told there is a half month fee due before move in (along with first, last, security). I can understand a fee if there is a realtor involved, but there is not. The landlord "hired" a tenent within the building (not a licensed realtor) to show the apartment. Is this legal?

[ME Hokie 07]

Not sure of the legality but even if it is illegal, I don't know that I'd want to rent from a landlord who I had just threatened litigation against; I don't see that turning out well. If you're not willing to pay it for that place I recommend forgetting about that apartment and looking for another place.

[shiver]

No, not legal. Only a licensed real estate salesperson/broker can charge a fee. So that's one. Also, a landlord can't charge a fee for his/her own apartment. That would depend on who the contact person was on Craigslist (the landlord or the tenant) and who set up the showing. Since the tenant is NOT a RE salesperson, it's a moot point, but there wouldn't be anything wrong with the landlord giving the apartment listing to one of the other tenants, assuming that tenant was licensed, the point of contact and handled all the showings, etc.

Landlord Rights & Responsibilities (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Business&L2=Lan dlords%2C+Real+Estate+&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent& f=landlord_rights_and_responsibilities&csid=Eoca - broken link)

You can report the landlord to the state agency. But, I would definitely forget about renting from this person. If the landlord is this shady from the beginning, run.