Real Estate Agent Tenant Fee

[Patrick Kelly]

So I am in the process of turning over my first unit. I have been doing all the advertising myself, meeting people to show the unit, following up about applications. I have just received a couple that has been working with a real estate agent that is interested in renting the unit and are looking to put a deposit down to hold the property. Things seem to be going well. I had a call with the agent to discuss the paper work and the agent asked if I was going to pay their fee. This took me a little by surprise, I was under the impression that if I contracted an agent to find prospective tenants, then it was my responsibility to pay the fee. If the tenant had contracted the agent to find them an apartment, then it was the tenants responsibility to pay the fee. Am I incorrect?

Just a little extra back ground this is in Massachusetts. The tenants just used this agent to sell their house and are doing a short lease while they look for a new house using this agent.