Brokerage Fees for a Purchase Not Made Through the Broker
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Question
Hello, I was looking for an apartment to rent through the Yad 2 website and came across a real estate agency that took me to a building and showed me several vacant apartments for rent without having me sign any form. After finishing the tour with him, I looked again on the Yad 2 website to see more apartments and found another apartment that seemed better to me. I called the advertiser, and he said that this apartment was already rented, but he had several more apartments in the building. During the conversation, it became clear that the other apartments were the same ones the broker showed me, but since he is the owner of the apartments, I would not have to pay a brokerage fee. Now the real estate agency claims that since they were the first to show me the apartments, I am obligated to pay them a brokerage fee. I, on the other hand, argue that since God directed me to the owner of the apartments without signing anything with the broker, and I would certainly have reached the same apartment without the broker's assistance because the owner also advertises his apartments and the broker does not have exclusivity on the apartment, I am not obligated to pay a brokerage fee. I would appreciate hearing the Torah's perspective. Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello
According to the instructions of the Gaon, Rabbi Avraham Fried, shlita
You need to pay the brokerage fee because the access was through the broker.
Source
According to the instructions of the Gaon, Rabbi Avraham Fried, shlita