"From now on, whoever hired the broker is on the hook for the fee, because it should be that simple," Healey announced.

The change will make a big difference in Greater Boston, where the cost of renting an apartment could soar past $10,000.

Massachusetts renters are poised to get some relief from onerous broker fees under a provision tucked into the 2026 spending package that Governor Maura Healey has pledged to sign.