Real estate agent fees for a rental home: are they trying to pull a fast one? (Houston: renter, credit check)

[arhim]

Hi guys,

I'll be relocating to Houston, and we are trying to finalize a house to rent. We did all the searching and found a place we are interested in. I reached out to the real estate agent who the landlord hired (we do NOT have a real estate agent). We are close to pulling the trigger, but then the real estate agent asks us for a check to pay him some fee (he's going to get back to me on the amount).

It was my impression that the landlord pays fees to the agent, not the occupant? Is it just different in Houston? And if it is standard for the renter to pay the agent fees, what is fair or standard?

Thanks in advance for the help

[Lowexpectations]

The owner/landlord should be paying the agent

[Oskar_Z28]

walk away, find another place. Sounds like a difficult landlord already coming after you or things he should pay.

[Brit-in-Texas]

Depends what the "fee" is. You are responsible for application fees which will be for your background/credit check. This is usually in the region of $30 to $50 per person over the age of 18 living in the home. The landlord will pay the actual Realtor fee.

[bazookabang]

Originally Posted by arhim

Hi guys,

I'll be relocating to Houston, and we are trying to finalize a house to rent. We did all the searching and found a place we are interested in. I reached out to the real estate agent who the landlord hired (we do NOT have a real estate agent). We are close to pulling the trigger, but then the real estate agent asks us for a check to pay him some fee (he's going to get back to me on the amount).

It was my impression that the landlord pays fees to the agent, not the occupant? Is it just different in Houston? And if it is standard for the renter to pay the agent fees, what is fair or standard?

Thanks in advance for the help

Not standard at all. I've lived in three different rental houses within Houston in last few years, and never had to pay the agent fee (we did pay some $25 or something like that with application for them to run credit/security check) to either my realtor or landlord's. If I were you, I'd walk away as this could be a sign of worse things to come (usually happens when landlord doesn't want to pay out of his pocket on anything)..

[Bornhouston]

If you are an applicant there is typically a application you will have to complete along with that application there is a application fee used to run your backing including your credit, rental, and criminal history.

[arhim]

So the dude is trying to get me to pay first month's rent to him (in addition to first month's rent to landlord)?????? I'm guessing something fishy is going on here. Thanks for your advice!

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by arhim

So the dude is trying to get me to pay first month's rent to him (in addition to first month's rent to landlord)?????? I'm guessing something fishy is going on here. Thanks for your advice!

A months rent in a fee is typically the owner's responsibility, why would you pay a realtor a months rent?

[jalam321]

You need to ask him exactly what are the "fees". Typically there will be application fee $25-50. Then you need to pay a security deposit (usually same amount as month's rent). And also pay the first months rent.

[gowithkatrina_reeltor]

You should not pay the landlords agent commission.