How can I get a deposit on an apartment I no longer want to rent back from a broker?

Last week I met with a broker about what seemed like a liveable and affordable apartment in Park Slope.  The broker, whose company also owned the building, did not charge a standard broker’s fee but required $500 in good faith to take the apartment off the market.  He said he would retract the fee for the credit check for myself and my girlfriend and keep the rest as his “fee”.  After giving him the cashier’s check we walked out of the building and ran into an occupant who told us not to move there because of a cockroach infestation and terrible water pressure.  After deliberating with my girlfriend about whether it was worth going forward, I called the broker back and told him we did not want to go forward.  While he had already conducted a credit check, we had yet to send payment stubs or anything else required for approval and thus had yet to be approved by the management company.  Unsurprisingly, he has refused to refund the $400 of the deposit that was not spent on a credit check, citing the contract which states that the fee is unrefundable if we are not approved.  Our only other option is to allow him to find us another apartment, which at this point we no longer need him to do?

My question is: how do I get that $400 back?  Even if we breached their contract, they should only be put in as good a position as they would have been without the breach.  That same apartment is back on the market now, and where some other poor desperate schlub pays him $500, this whole affair will “unjustly enrich” him to the tune of $400.  I invite helpful advice.

Thank You

schmewell

in Agents and Brokers 13 years and 8 months ago

7

Please log in, in order to post replies!

7 replies

Newest Oldest

superfuji57 | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4943 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4931 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179604"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "superfuji57"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BqrBS80iPqlDuYxMWoBgkXzFJ.uR1m0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "superfuji57"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "andy.won@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(53) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/superfuji57/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:03:37"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "superfuji57"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179604)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Was the apartment on 4th ave? i had a similar experience last week.

PLUSA | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4942 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4941 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "5764"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "PLUSA"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(2) "jb"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "jbbj000@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/dirty_hipster/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:21"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(2) "JB"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(5764)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

sounds like rapid realty to me.  classic tactic of theirs.

callalily | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4938 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4944 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "56059"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "moparbrownstoner@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(20) "/forums/users/mopar/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:38:12"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(56059)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If he’s a rep for building management, he’s not allowed to charge any fee.

primebrooklyn | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4943 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4945 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "38087"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "primebrooklyn"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bh8TLjFvNTLQ5sJ0ze5gYQunI77ejb/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "primebrooklyn"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "primebrooklyn@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/primebrooklyn/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2009-09-24 16:41:49"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "primebrooklyn"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(38087)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Duh. Tell him you’re calling the dept of state and having his, the agents, license and his brokers license revoked for illegal practice. Then watch how fast he coughs up $400\. I’m so sick of this.

greenebean | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4942 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "18717"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "greenebean"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "greenebean"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "presto7@earthlink.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(52) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/greenebean/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-10-16 01:19:05"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "uIkpIe5DDlvjR2NlzH6h"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "greenebean"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(18717)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Have you thought about contacting the Attorney General’s office?

Putnamdenizen | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4938 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5114 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "1667"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "Putnamdenizen"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$A/uVhx.UarNPKJZsxpy.S.PxwQgglBNI40qIlo0JkqNQehUN9Kls2"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "putnamdenizen"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "JLStevens@mac.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(35) "http:///forums/users/putnamdenizen/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:12:34"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "Putnamdenizen"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(1667)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Small claims court.

Rick | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4943 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5116 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "1470"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "Rick"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BAu.JvH2s1Xx4WSWCj1RPGTP7/OK53/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "rick"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "r.ladd.bklyn@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(46) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/rick/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:46"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "Rick"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(1470)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Are you sure the occupant is telling you the truth? The roach problem and water pressure can be fixed. It’s not like you found bedbugs that are more difficult to remove.