It's becoming more normal as brokers try to secure tenants by discouraging multiple simultaneous applications, but it's trash and I've always refused to do it.

No degree of efficiency can beat natural gas prices atm. You are likely benefitting from the building common area heating and neighbor heating to a great degree.

It's perfectly normal to require such a high amount upfront regardless of being a student or not. But "up front" means at the time of signing the lease or just before. It is not normal at all to be asked for rent & brokers fees before they even look at your application.

I'm not sure about the exact laws on application fees, but reputable landlords tend not to use them. It is definitely illegal for them to charge you a fee that they would keep even if you don't get the apartment. I'm not sure if it's okay for them to charge a fee if they would refund it if you don't get the place. Regardless, if every place you're looking at has an application fee (NOT a brokers fee--those are different, much more common and legal), you're probably not looking in the best places. A lot of online listings with application fees are scams.

No. Probably 1/4 of the people on any given mountain are riding/skiing alone.

Apartment listing scams are common. I wouldn't send that much money out just to apply.

Commuters, Brookline residents, and student car dumpers have been using city streets for free for decades and the city won't do anything about it.

most of the ones ive seen online/in person have an application fee though. is it legal in MA to have an application fee but it just has to be refundable?

i'm also a current undergrad student- could that factor into them wanting such a high amount upfront since there are probably 20 other students fighting for the same place?

It’s not a literal lottery where the prize is an a luxury apartment.

It’s a lottery and/or waitlist process for those who qualify based on income, etc.

Start here to figure out what you qualify for: https://www.boston.gov/metrolist/search

I think so! She asked if I was being abused because of the dark circles under my eyes. I use concealer but they really are not that bad. They’re pretty consistent with typical dark circles. It was the first time anyone has ever asked me that or commented on my dark under eye circles.

Easy to be a landlord on 25 year old margins

What if it's just at night? What if they got up if someone asked? Why don't they make more benches or single seat armchairs instead of these things? No doubt you wouldn't sit right next to a homeless person anyways so why do you care so much about this?

Hello yes I would like Subway access & free parking

Not Boston, but a worthy trainride out to Worcester can get you to Union Music downtown, great little store, the acoustic selection is really nice for a small store, and it's right next to Coney Island so you can get a fucking great hot dog and a polar for like, a few bucks.

Love Union Music.

Hell yes!

Like at a hotel for a whole day.

When They’re so used to getting it free, it’s incomprehensible

The weather will also probably be better in April!

But then how will they own the libs?

Regardless of how prevalent this practice is…please move on from that type of clown show.

It’s just an apartment application.

The application fees are already highway robbery and probably just a scam to get a few grand of fees from 20 different applications.

But hard pass to any broker fees being asked for prior to them being earned. You should only ask for those fees when the lease is signed. Not a day sooner.

Any landlord that has the approach you are describing (or who works with brokers who do) deserves the heartiest “getthefuckouttahere” from any sensible tenant.

Source: 25-year Boston landlord who hasn’t had a deadbeat in over a decade. I find that treating tenants with respect is a much better way of everyone being copacetic.

Landlord here and this attorney is 💯

My grandparents did. They waited for years, got apt through subsidized housing, near symphony. And then refused because it didn’t come with parking :)

Because it's a public resource meant for 2 people and not just you.

It's normal to pay that much AFTER your application is approved, even after approval but before signing the lease. But it's not normal to be asked to pay that much before your application has even been approved. A non-refundable application fee (the $50/person here) is also illegal in MA. There are several red flags here.

Usually realtor charge one months rent. It is up to the landlord if he or the tenant is to pay the fee. In your case the tenant is to pay. You can always ask to split it. I’m a realtor in Boston but don’t really do rentals but sounds standard. Now if the agents name was tom smith from All star real estate and they asked you to write the check out to tom smith not all star real estate then that would be weird. It’s always written out to the brokerage ( ex. Coldwell banker). Quick google search should help verify the agent.

He (Jason Alexander) attended BU, so knows about the cost to park.