Trying to assign my lease in Astoria because I’m moving to Jersey City next month. I found a candidate, landlord said they’re fine with her, but the broker who originally rented me the place is now emailing like I owe him an 'assignment processing fee' for the addendum and 'coordinating the new application.' My lease only says assignment needs landlord consent and I pay actual costs. Do I really have to pay this? Building management keeps copying him on everything. It feels like a shakedown but I don’t want this to blow up the move.

You don’t owe unless the lease or a separate agreement says you do. Brokers love to act like gatekeepers after they’ve already been paid. Ask him to point to the exact fee language. Actual costs for assignment usually means credit check/background, maybe lock rekey, not his 'coordination.'

Yup, same in Flushing. The broker is trying to stay in the middle so he can bill somebody again. If the landlord already approved, the hard part is done. Tell the building you need a written breakdown of actual costs and have them direct the bill to you, not 'via broker.'

Lease language: 'consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for actual costs incurred in processing the assignment.' No broker clause. But now he sends an addendum with a box for the new tenant to 'hire' him. I’m reading that as him trying to collect twice.

Exactly. That addendum is for the incoming person, not you. If she signs it, that’s her problem—though it may be an illegal-ish broker fee if she wasn’t his client. I’d not pass it along until your landlord confirms what they need. Copy the landlord and ask, 'Please confirm the assignment is approved; I’ll pay any actual costs directly.' That usually kills the fake middleman.

To add: some management companies really do use the broker as their application processor for assignments, but then the fee should be an actual cost, not ‘processing fee’ with no amount. I’d ask for an itemized invoice with the exact cost, not a percentage or a vague service charge.

Also check if you’re doing a true assignment vs sublet. With assignment, you’re off the hook and the new tenant is the tenant. With sublet, you stay responsible and the fee rules are different. Since you said moving permanently, assignment is better. Don’t sign anything that says sublet if you want clean legal separation.

It’s a true assignment—she’s taking over remaining term and deposit and my name comes off. I’m never trying to be someone’s sublandlord in Astoria while paying rent in Jersey City. New tenant is qualified, landlord said yes. That’s why the broker fee is making me nuts.

I’d still be polite for now because the broker can slow-walk the move-in inspection or key handover if he’s the one with the lockbox. But you can be polite and firm: 'Which clause in my lease authorizes this?' If no answer, do everything through landlord. Paper trail.

Right, and don't let the building tell you the broker must be involved unless that’s in your lease or a rider. Sometimes there’s a building policy that new tenants apply through the same broker, but policy isn’t your contract. I’d ask management to send their assignment procedure from the management office.

Update: I copied the landlord and asked for actual costs. Landlord came back with credit report and lock change only. Broker’s 'processing fee' disappeared from the email chain after the landlord said 'tenant is not responsible for your fee.' So yeah, do that. For anyone dealing with people using free labor, the earlier thread Unpaid 'working interview' for a barista gig in Manhattan — should I just do it? Unpaid 'working interview' for a barista gig in Manhattan — should I just do it? gave me the same vibe: someone seeing how much they can get without paying.

Good outcome. This is the NYC specialty: somebody charges you a feeless fee and calls it coordination. When you push, it evaporates. Glad the landlord was reasonable. Good luck with the Jersey City move—at least you’ll have an actual closet maybe.