Lisa R.

BROOKLYN RENTS: this is a COMPLETELY FRAUDULENT "real estate business." They will post very appealing listings on the large, legit search engines for NYC rentals, such as Apartments.com, Zillow, StreetEasy, etc.
You spot such a listing, reach out to the listed broker - some random name or agency - and arrange to see it in person. This first connection steers you, unwittingly, to BROOKLYN RENTS, where the TRAP IS LAID.
First, they will insist upon a "good faith deposit" - which, incidentally, is ILLEGAL in NYC and its boroughs - Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
This "good faith deposit" will be on the order of $1,000 or more. This seems rather high, but perhaps you proceed, because you really want this apartment and you are so tired of looking for something decent and affordable.
You will reach out to your new "broker," (read: CON ARTIST), possibly the HOSTILE, EVASIVE, and DISPICABLE SHYSTER named ROSE NACHUM, and promptly learn of their requirement for the following: application fee of $20 per applicant and per guarantor (standard), oh and also another $250 to cover "legal fees" pertaining to the lease agreement! AND, you'll need a credit score of 700 or higher, and an annual personal income EIGHTY TIMES THE MONTHLY RENT - CHA CHING! Who has THAT? Nobody, of course... at least not the average NYC renter looking to secure an apartment for $1750 - $2500 per month. Especially since your personal income CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANYONE ELSE. This means that YOU AND YOU ALONE MUST EARN AROUND $200,000 YEARLY.
No, this absurd requirement is not a "typo," as you had hoped, but rather a non-negotiable for proceeding with the application process. Meanwhile, you've also discovered that the beautiful apartment pictured on the search engine is, in fact, NOT AVAILABLE, and ROSE NACHUM first insists that a different unit, at a different price, is or may be available. But you're not interested in these other units. Looking back at the listing, you find her remarks do not square with what is published. Looking further, and checking other search engines, you find the original, beautiful apartment now listed as a DIFFERENT APARTMENT NUMBER, offered at a DIFFERENT PRICE. The one for which you have applied DOESN'T EXIST, according to ROSE NACHUM.
What to do? You have NO CHOICE other than to proceed with an apartment that you don't want, provided you can pin down the SLIPPERY ROSE. Spoiler alert: this will get you exactly NOWHERE, because the apartments now on offer also do not exist, or are so foul/overpriced/undesirable that you would never want them. At any price.
Now mired in the fruitless and toxic orbit of LIES, TRICKERY AND SIDE-STEPPING that goes by the name of BROOKLYN RENTS, you may choose to cancel the application process. And there goes your $1000 "good faith deposit." Why? How is that even fair? Because YOU backed out the the application process. They have won by taking your money illegally, deceiving you about the apartment on offer, then wearing you down until you can't stand it anymore.

References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/nyregion/nyc-rent-laws-broker-fees.html

Https :// www.thecity. Nyc/2019/9/18/*******/tenants-pressured-to-pay-cash-up-front-despite-new-rent-law-s-limits#:~: text=Assemblymember%20Linda%20Rosenthal%20(D%2DManhattan, faith%20deposits%20are%20strictly%20illegal.&text=She%20said%20tenants%20who%20have, oversees%20the%20real%20estate%20profession.

And for a great laugh, see all the HILARIOUSLY OBSEQUIOUS AND NEARLY IDENTICAL 5-star reviews at BROOKLYN RENTS! Brought to you by BOTS!
https://www.womply.com/biz/brooklyn-rents-brooklyn-NY/

Do yourself a big favor and STAY AWAY from this company. Despite clear language on their own website and that of the carrier's website (TAP Portugal, in this case), Justfly REFUSED TO REFUND TICKETS WHICH WERE CANCELLED BY THE CARRIER DUE TO COVID. I have been battling with them for 8 months trying to get my money back, and finally resorted to going through the bank to dispute the charges. Luckily, my bank (Chase) came through. Justfly should be banned altogether for illegal practice, to say nothing of unethical practice. SHAME ON THEM - yet another shining example of CORPORTATE GREED AND FRAUD.