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My girlfriend and I have been renting a 2BR in Prospect Heights for the past 18 months at 1,800/mo. When we moved in we paid first month’s, last month’s, security (1,800) and a brokers fee (1,800) to the super/landlord, (even though our friend who lived in the building found us the place.)

Now I have to move for a job in another city but my girlfriend is staying and searching for a roommate. Our super/landlord tells us he will have to collect an $800 broker’s fee (half the rent) from the new tenant upon their moving in.

We asked for him to put this in writing and he refused. There is nothing in our lease about adding new names to the lease or the fees they have to pay in order to move in.

The real estate company to whom we send our rent checks each month, and who owns the building, is not at all involved in the day-to-day operations here.

Is our super/landlord’s request for a fresh broker’s fee totally bogus? Any ideas or tips on how we can fight it?

Thanks much!