To the editor:
I watch with bated breath as the Lynn City Council considers enacting additional tenant protections (“Council to vote on enhancing tenants’ rights,” Page A1, Nov. 14). I propose adding a rider to the Housing Stability Ordinance proposal before the Nov. 26 vote.
Following the New York City Council’s recent approval of an ordinance requiring landlords to cover real estate broker fees instead of tenants—currently awaiting Mayor Eric Adams’s approval or veto—and the Boston City Council’s discussions on a similar measure (“Boston is one of the last places to allow renter-paid broker fees,” wgbh.org, Nov. 15), the Lynn City Council should adopt a local law banning brokers from charging prospective tenants a fee to find an apartment.
Critics argue that landlords might raise rents to offset the cost if they handle tenant searches directly. However, this concern could also be addressed within the Housing Stability Ordinance.
I look forward to seeing if the Lynn City Council takes a bold step to enhance tenant protections and follows New York City’s example.
Sincerely,
Deborah Malick
Lynn
