They're also creating an implicit discount for longer-term tenants (which is good for landlords). When I rented my place in NYC some years ago, the broker fee

They're also creating an implicit discount for longer-term tenants (which is good for landlords). When I rented my place in NYC some years ago, the broker fee was meaningful to me. Once I paid it, I was less likely to want to move since I'd have to pay it again vs renewing my existing lease which did not involve another broker fee.