In cities like San Francisco, tenant broker fees have increased significantly since the pandemic.  These fees are typically fronted by the landlord and recouped over the term of the lease through the rent paid by the tenant.  You may be wondering why landlords would offer more fee when rental economics are on the decline.  It’s because landlords think of the fee as an incentive to brokers to bring deals to their building.  As soon as one landlord increases the fee, others marketing comparable buildings follow suit because they want to ensure their building gets equal consideration (and they think brokers select which buildings to show the client based on fee – they (mostly) don’t).  When the markets are tight, as they were in the decade preceding the pandemic, landlords hold fees flat.  They don’t need to pay more to attract demand – the simple fact they have available supply is sufficient.