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Posted by SamE on February 10, 2000 at 19:32:19:

In Reply to: Apartment Listings posted by Paul on February 07, 2000 at 18:04:16:

: From New York City, General Apartment Listings.
: In reading the on-line guide of Tenet's Rights FAQ, its says under the section:
: APARTMENT REFERRAL AGENCIES
: Businesses that for advance fees provide information about the
: location and availability of rental housing must be licensed by
: the state. The fees charged by these firms may not exceed one
: month's rent. When the information the firms provide does not
: result in a rental, the entire pre-paid fee, less $15.00, must be
: returned to the tenant. Criminal prosecutions for violations of
: this law may be brought by the Attorney General. (Real Property
: Law, Article 12-C)

: Yet, in the Village Voice many of the advertisements are dubious apartment listings that require a registration fee. Have modifications been made to the law that allow these agencies to become legal, or are most people ignorant to the above provision in the law? Also, how would I make a claim to be refunded,
: since every listings agency I have asked directly has claimed these charges
: are legally non-refundable. I am very interested in a professonals opinion.
: Paul

Several years ago some of these fee-places were closed or indicted or fined or something because they had sham arrangements with a couple of landlords: they kept showing the same vacant apts. If you use them and don't find an apt: call the Dept of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals Office. And sue in Small Claims.

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Comments:
: : From New York City, General Apartment Listings.
: : In reading the on-line guide of Tenet's Rights FAQ, its says under the section:
: : APARTMENT REFERRAL AGENCIES
: : Businesses that for advance fees provide information about the
: : location and availability of rental housing must be licensed by
: : the state. The fees charged by these firms may not exceed one
: : month's rent. When the information the firms provide does not
: : result in a rental, the entire pre-paid fee, less $15.00, must be
: : returned to the tenant. Criminal prosecutions for violations of
: : this law may be brought by the Attorney General. (Real Property
: : Law, Article 12-C)

: : Yet, in the Village Voice many of the advertisements are dubious apartment listings that require a registration fee.  Have modifications been made to the law that allow these agencies to become legal, or are most people ignorant to the above provision in the law?  Also, how would I make a claim to be refunded,
: : since every listings agency I have asked directly has claimed these charges
: : are legally non-refundable.  I am very interested in a professonals opinion. 
: : Paul

: Several years ago some of these fee-places were closed or indicted or fined or something because they had sham arrangements with a couple of landlords: they kept showing the same vacant apts.  If you use them and don't find an apt: call the Dept of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals Office.  And sue in Small Claims.


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