You generally pay a fee equal to the rent when applying. It is refundable until you sign the lease. After lease signing you generally pay 2-3 other fees equal to one months rent. I’m an agent and I normally consider the first payment as the first months rent but some say it’s the broker fee. While the paperwork at my company says it’s the broker fee. Normally the broker has to present one months rent with apps to the owner/property manager to get it off market and reserved.