To the Editorial Team: With so many Kingston renters looking for apartments this winter, one rule is worth repeating because it still catches people off guard: in New York, a landlord or broker can't charge you more than $20, or the actual cost if it is lower, to run your background or credit check.

That limit has been state law since 2019. The landlord also has to give you a copy of the report and a receipt from the company that ran it. And if you already have a background or credit check from the past 30 days, you can offer that instead, and the fee is waived.

Renters: if someone asks for a $75 or $100 "application fee," ask what it covers and get it in writing. Never pay a deposit or fee in cash or by gift card to someone you haven't met at the property.

Owners: keep your screening process consistent and your fees within the law. It protects you as much as your applicants.

After more than 20 years managing rentals across the Hudson Valley, I've found that clear, fair rules from the first contact make for better tenancies.

Christopher Orefice

Poughkeepsie

President, Integrity Property Management