Screenshot of video released on Gov. Maura Healey's account on X

As Gov. Maura Healey prepared to roll out her annual budget in January, she pre-announced plans to include a measure outlawing renter-paid broker’s fees.

On Wednesday, she announced before taking final action on the $61 billion state budget she received Monday that she’ll agree to a similar measure passed by lawmakers.

The governor has until Thursday, July 10 to sign the budget and release any vetoes or amendments.

“BIG NEWS: I’m getting rid of broker’s fees for renters in Massachusetts,” Healey posted Wednesday on X.

“If you’ve moved apartments recently, you’ve probably paid four months rent up front – first month, last month, security deposit and a broker’s fee for a broker you didn’t even hire,” she said in an accompanying video. “So this week, as part of my budget bill, I’m getting rid of those renter paid brokers fees for good.”

In a press release, Healey acknowledged that lawmakers played a role in what will soon be a new law.

“I’m grateful that the Legislature agreed that the person who hires the broker should be responsible for paying them. While we continue to review the full budget, I am proud to say that the budget I sign will ban renter-paid broker’s fees,” Healey said in the release.

Once Healey signs the measure, starting Aug. 1 any apartment broker fee shall only be paid by the party – either the landlord or the tenant – who originally engaged and entered into a contract with the apartment broker. Typically, most renters in Massachusetts search for apartments on their own, without a broker’s help.

But industry leaders have expressed skepticism that many landlords won’t simply raise their base rents to cover the commission an agent earns when marketing a unit.

BIG NEWS: I’m getting rid of broker’s fees for renters in Massachusetts

From now on, whoever hired the broker is on the hook for the fee. Because it should be that simple. pic.twitter.com/aqoXqzIs5n

— Governor Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) July 2, 2025