What is a re-letting fee and is it legal?
What the fee covers
Re-letting fees are meant to cover costs such as advertising, showing the unit and screening a new tenant. Some landlords charge a flat amount, while others charge a percentage of rent. The fee is usually listed in the lease as something that applies if you end your tenancy early.
A fee can be added on top of rent you owe, so it can make an early move-out much more expensive. Read the fee clause carefully before you sign or before you agree to a buyout.
- Often a flat amount or percentage of rent
- Usually disclosed in the lease
- Can add cost on top of unpaid rent
- Legality varies by state
Check whether it is allowed
Some states allow reasonable re-letting fees when the lease states them clearly. Others restrict or ban them, especially when the landlord still must mitigate damages. Local tenant rights groups or your state housing agency can explain the current rules.
If a fee seems high or was not in the lease you signed, ask the landlord for an itemized explanation. Keep a copy of every message about the charge.
Common mistakes
- Agreeing to a fee you never saw in writing.
- Paying a re-letting fee without asking for an itemized breakdown.
- Assuming a fee is legal just because the landlord said so.
